1-800-BOATLAW

Commercial Fishing Casualties

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a division of the Center for Disease Control, recently published studies on the fatality rates for the commercial fishing industry for the past decade. The reports confirmed that commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States from 2000 – 2010. As many of our clients will attest, many commercial fishing operations are characterized by hazardous working conditions, strenuous labor, long work hours and harsh weather. These demanding work environments can result in grave consequences. Sadly, there were 545 fatalities between 2000 – 2010.

Regarding the activities underway / causes of death, the percentages were as follows:

– 51% occurred after a vessel disaster
– 31% fatalities occurred when a fisherman fell overboard
– 10% fatalities resulted from an injury onboard
– 7% fatalities occurred while diving or from onshore injuries

Regarding the geographic breakdown, the percentages were as follows (for 2000 – 2009):

– 33% East Coast
– 26% Alaska
– 23% Gulf of Mexico
– 16% West Coast
– 2% Hawaii and U.S. vessels in Canadian waters

By year, the number of commercial fishing fatalities in the United States ranged from 41 – 61 per year. This figure marks an improvement from the 1990s when the annual deaths ranged from 48 – 96 per year. Overall, the annual figures have been decreasing since 1992. While the trend is promising, the numbers remain unsettling.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • The Maritime Law Association of The United States
    The Maritime Law Association of the United States (MLA) was founded in 1899. Its formation was prompted by the organization, some three years earlier, of the International Maritime Committee.
  • Washington State Bar Association
    The Washington State Bar Association operates under the delegated authority of the Washington Supreme Court to license the state's nearly 40,000 lawyers and other legal professionals.
  • Oregon State Bar
    The Oregon State Bar is a government agency in the U.S. state of Oregon. Founded in 1890 as the private Oregon Bar Association, it became a public entity in 1935 that regulates the legal profession.
  • Alaska Bar Association
    The Alaska Bar Association is a mandatory bar association responsible to the Alaska Supreme Court for the admission and discipline process of attorneys for the State of Alaska.