Making float-free locator beacons compulsory on vessels such as Easy Rider, which capsized in Foveaux Strait last week, was considered "impractical", Maritime New Zealand says.
Former Port Chalmers Fishing co-operative president Steve Little told the Otago Daily Times making the hydrostatic release beacons mandatory should have happened after the Kotuku tragedy in 2006.
He believed such beacons could save lives when boats capsized quickly, as they did not rely on people on board triggering them.
They were instead activated by water pressure, so alerting the rescue centre immediately.
After the Kotuku tragedy, MNZ considered the implications of making the beacons mandatory as part of its review of rule part 40D, relating to the design, construction and equipment of fishing vessels.
However, a spokesman said by email yesterday changing the rule to be more "prescriptive" was considered "impractical at the time".
Instead, MNZ took a "more practical approach" to the recommendations with a range of initiatives which included the development of safety bulletins, articles, publications and a range of other proactive safety material around issues such as emergency beacons, liferaft release mechanisms, vessel-freeing ports and general stability issues, he said.
MNZ had also held targeted meetings with the muttonbirding community, and ongoing safety workshops with vessel operators, including those in Southland, the most recent last December, he said.
An aerial and land search yesterday failed to find the four people still missing after Easy Rider capsized.
Police used a helicopter along the southern coast, between Waipapa Pt and Riverton, while a four-wheel drive was driven along Oreti Beach.
