Commercial fisherman have one of the most deadly occupations available for off shore
workers, while the annual records per state related to off shore commercial fishing deaths, have steadily declined for most states, there are still many commercial related fishing incidents that do occur.
Alaska ranks the highest as for the number of reported commercial fishing fatalities out of
all of the states involved, with the cause of death ranging from safety issues associated with the ship used for commercial fishing, while some of the commercial fisherman in Alaska died from injuries received working on board the ship.
The Gulf of Mexico commercial fishing deaths rank the highest among the commercial fishing industries such as the shrimp industry leading the highest among reported deaths that occurred in the Gulf of Mexico and was also reported in the crab industry as well. With the cause of death ranging from falling overboard, or related to a problem with the ship, such as catching on fire, or sinking causing the crew to abandon the ship.
According to the CDC statistics report based on the 2000-2009 time frame there were a grand total of 545 commercial fishermen that died while fishing in the United States. According to the statistical data offered through the CDC, the death rate declined somewhat when viewed for current data pertaining to the year 2010. The CDCs findings reveal the top causes of commercial fisherman deaths are as follows:
- Flooding causing the fisherman to fall overboard, or the boat flooding.
- The instability of the fishing ship
- Being struck by large waves
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Severe weather, causing ship damage as well as causing workers to fall overboard
during a storm.
Negligence on the part of the employer did play a role in all of the CDC reported deaths for the years of 2000 – 2010, as with the findings of the CDC none of these fishermen were wearing a personal flotation device also referred to as a (PFD) which could have saved lives if it were mandated that all of the commercial fishermen be required to wear safety equipment while on board the commercial fishing ship.
With the known negligence of the superiors of those who work on commercial fishing
ships, it is important to know your legal rights, and how those rights can protect you should you become injured as a result of working on a commercial fishing ship, the best way to find out what your legal rights are pertaining to a commercial fishing accident or injury is to seek the skills of a maritime lawyer who practices in offshore law, also known as maritime law.
