The Dangers of Alaskan King Crab Fishing
Safety Practices Boaters Can Learn from Commercial Fishermen
Jul 24, 2009
The Discovery Channel program Deadliest Catch has highlighted the dangers of crab fishing in the extreme environment of the North Pacific Ocean. Crab fishing boats featured in the series are operating out of Dutch Harbor, Alaska in the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Chain divides the Pacific Ocean south of the islands from the Bering Sea to the north.
Commercial fishing is the most dangerous occupation in the United States and suffers a similar reputation throughout the world. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) supports this contention. NIOSH data show that during the early 1990s, fishermen suffered some 200 deaths per 100,000 workers in Alaskan waters compared to a rate of 7 deaths per 100,000 workers for the entire United States.
The significant dangers faced by King Crab and other commercial fishermen involve hypothermia, drowning and injury caused by fishing gear. Changes in regulations and technology have greatly improved the safety record of commercial fishing in Alaska. These changes can benefit recreational boaters as well. Some things that recreational boaters can do to improve safety are the use of lifejackets, carriage of immersion suits, installation of emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and emergency drill training.
Lifejackets and Immersion (Survival) Suit Use
Many deaths in cold water occur after an inadvertent fall overboard. The first reaction people have after entering cold water is to involuntarily gasp and inhale water. If a crewmember or boater isn’t wearing a lifejacket, there is a good chance they won’t survive this initial reflex. If there is time available before a person has to enter cold water, donning an immersion suit will greatly improve the chance of survival.
King Crab fishing boats in the North Pacific are required to carry immersion or survival suits onboard. The US Coast Guard considers the waters north of the 32 °N latitude line as being cold waters requiring the use of immersion suits. Research shows many people will not survive immersion in 70 °F water for more than a couple hours and the body will not maintain its core temperature for extended periods in water that is less than 91 °F.
Immersion suits keep a person in the water fairly warm and dry, extending survival times from a few minutes to hours and sometimes days. Immersion suits are one type of commercial fishing vessel safety gear that has a place on a recreational vessel operating in cold water.
Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)
Radio beacons take the search out of a search and rescue missions. These devices operate on the 406 MHz radio frequency that allows for rapid acquisition and location of the distress signal to pinpointing a vessel’s location in minutes. Improvements in electronics technology have greatly reduced the cost of EPIRBs, making them very affordable to recreational boaters. At about $700, EPIRBs represent an excellent safety value for anyone on the water.
Onboard Emergency Training Drills
Crews on commercial fishing vessels are required to participate in emergency training drills that simulate incidents that can occur on a boat. Training topics can include fire fighting, man overboard, donning an immersion suit, abandon ship, mayday calls, and damage control. Training is proven to improve a person’s ability to effectively respond during an emergency situation. The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA) is one group that offers courses on how to conduct effective drills.
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