Mines and Petroleum Minister Sean L’Estrange has launched the annual Seven Golden Rules for Prospecting campaign.
Mr L’estrange said the Department of Mines and Petroleum (DMP) has issued over 17,000 Miners Rights prospecting permits to Western Australians in the past five years.
He said the campaign, with the increase in permits, was important in highlighting safe and secure prospecting practices during peak season including the use of Personal Locator Beacons (PLB).
"WA's outback can be a harsh, remote environment, which is why personal safety is such an important consideration when prospecting," he said.
“If you're not carrying a beacon, you're not taking enough responsibility for your life.”
PLBs are ideal for remote areas as they do not rely on telecommunication networks to submit a signal.
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Liza Harvey said six land searches were conducted in WA for missing prospectors last year.
"The land searches included four in the Goldfields-Esperance District and two in the Mid West-Gascoyne District," she said.
"We have had tragic outcomes in the past after people have become lost, the choice to carry a beacon should be an easy one for prospectors."
The Seven Golden Rules include obtaining a Miner's Right permit when prospecting on vacant Crown land, putting safety first, obtaining a 40E permit prior to prospecting on an exploration tenement, getting written permission for prospecting on someone else's mining tenement, complying with all legal requirements when prospecting on a pastoral lease, showing respect when on Crown land and filling any holes or repairing any ground disturbances.
A Miner’s Right is the most common prospecting permit used by tourists, allowing holders to prospect on Crown land, use handheld tools such as metal detectors, and taking samples of up to 20 kilograms.
