WELCOME TO BILL'S CORNER!

Dear Constituents:

Here at NOAA Fisheries, we were deeply saddened to end 2004 and start off 2005 with the sinking of commercial fishing vessels that claimed the lives of five scallop fishermen in New England, six snow crab fishermen in Alaska, and a shrimper in Texas. Additional fishermen already have lost their lives to the sea in 2005 as well, prompting me to use this issue of Bill’s Corner to address the all-important issue of safety at sea. My deepest sympathy goes out to the family, friends, and communities that have lost loved ones to fishing accidents. Knowing the dangers of the profession, fishermen risk their lives every day to provide Americans with fresh and safe seafood. Increasingly, they have been harvesting in a sustainable manner while contributing billions to our nation’s economy. For this, we pay homage to our fishermen.

I have faith that most captains and crew on commercial fishing vessels consider safety above all else when deciding when, where, and how to go fishing. Most also make sure their boats are properly equipped with emergency gear in the event of an accident. However, safety is an important issue and one that warrants ongoing education and constant vigilance, so I am taking some time here to go over a few of the simple things you can do to prevent accidents at sea and be prepared in the event of an emergency.

Commercial fishing is among the most hazardous occupations in the United States, with the winter months proving to be the most deadly. Coast Guard investigations of past fishing fatalities have revealed that one of the primary causes of accidents is bad weather, including rough seas, heavy wind and rain. It is imperative that fishing crews have access to NOAA Weather Radio and monitor it often for weather warnings and small craft advisories. I urge captains to base their fishing decisions on weather conditions. If NOAA has issued a weather warning, do not go out fishing. If you are already out when an advisory is issued, turn back or head to safer areas until the weather system has passed. While this seems like common sense, I understand that other factors – such as lost fishing opportunities and revenue – sometimes lead captains to make decisions that needlessly put the vessel and crew in harm’s way.

When it comes to safety at sea, accident prevention and survival depends on good decision-making and preparedness. You can be prepared by having the boat properly maintained and equipped with the required safety equipment, such as survival suits, survival craft, personal flotation devices, fire extinguishers, and distress signals. Survival gear must be stored properly so that you can gain quick access to it. Make sure the vessel has the stability required to withstand “capsizing moments,” such as heavy winds, large waves, or forces caused by fishing gear. A vessel should be able to counter external forces to maintain an upright position. I can’t stress enough the importance of having radio receivers onboard so the crew can get important weather advisories from NOAA Weather Radio.

The Coast Guard offers to inspect commercial fishing vessels for safety readiness. I encourage every commercial boat owner to take advantage of this free government service. The Coast Guard also offers survival training courses to fishermen and requires regular safety drills to ensure that everyone on board knows precisely what steps to take should the vessel capsize. Frequent practice will ensure that the entire crew is ready for any unforeseen emergency.

Maritime safety falls under the purview of the U.S. Coast Guard. I am including several links below to Coast Guard sites that offer all the information you need to ensure your own personal safety while on fishing trips. Please review these resources and call the Coast Guard should you have any questions.

In closing, I’d like to note that fishing regulations are never intended to force fishermen to be on the water in bad weather or to offer incentive for captains to keep fishing in unsafe conditions. If these perceptions exist in our fishing communities, I urge fishermen to work with our regional fishery management councils to analyze why. Fishermen should continue to express their views through the council process so that the councils and NOAA Fisheries can determine how best to conserve and manage fishery resources, while providing fishermen with an appropriate amount of flexibility to participate in their respective fisheries. National Standard 10 for fisheries management requires the councils and NOAA Fisheries to consider the impact on safety of any regulation under consideration. Through the Council process, you have a forum to relay your expertise and share your concerns and ideas, and I encourage your involvement so we can all work to make commercial fishing a safer profession.

Until next time, I wish you all a very safe winter and happy fishing.

References

U.S. Coast Guard’s Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Web site

Federal Safety Requirements for U.S. Commercial Fishing Vessels

Safety Guidelines for Commercial Fishing Vessels
(in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese)

Schedule a Free Dock-side Safety Exam of your Vessel

Coast Guard Local Marine Safety Offices

Best Practices Guide to Vessel Stability (PDF)

NOAA Weather Radio

For more information, contact Lt. Vazquez at the Coast Guard: 202-267-0478; KVazquez@comdt.uscg.mil