Fishing at sea is probably the most dangerous occupation in the world. Data from those countries that collect accurate accounts show that occupational fatalities in their fishing industries far exceed their national average. For example, in the United States of America the fatality rate at an average of 160 per 100 000 is 25-30 times the national average; in Australia, the fatality rate for fishers is 143 per 100 000 compared with 8.1 per 100 000 nationally. Not only are the figures high, but there is little evidence to suggest they are decreasing.
FAO estimates that of the 36 million engaged in fishing and fish-farming, roughly 15 million fishers are employed aboard decked and undecked fishing vessels operating in marine capture fisheries, of whom more than 90 per cent are working on vessels less than 24 metres in length. It seems plausible that the fatality rate in countries for which information is not available might be higher than those mentioned above. Thus, the number of global fatalities might be considerably higher than the figure of 24 000 deaths world wide per year estimated by the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Effective approaches to safety at sea everywhere in the world and at all levels rely on three lines of defence:
- Prevention (the most reliable and cost-effective component): Suitable equipment, training, experience, information and judgement to avoid getting into trouble in the first place.
- Survival and self-rescue: The equipment, training and attitudes necessary to survive and effect self-rescue when things start to go wrong.
- Search and Rescue (SAR) (the most costly and least reliable of the three levels). Systems of alert, search, and rescue which are called upon when the first two lines of defence have failed.
Activities
FAO advocates the inclusion of safety at sea as an integral part of fisheries management. Measures to improve safety can only be truly effective where the motivation to apply them exists. To establish and maintain such a culture of safety is a never-ending task that demands the participation of the fishermen themselves and their families, the boat-owners, the legislators and the community at large.
FAO activities to improve safety at sea for small-scale fishers are focused on the following:
- Development of regional strategies and plans of action
- Development and implementation of standards for small fishing vessels together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO)
- Training of fishermen