Commercial fishing is the most dangerous work in the United States. A commercial fisher is eight times more likely to die on the job than a police officer.Approximately half of deaths at sea occur from illness and injury on the job and the remainder from vessel catastrophes. Injuries are often preventable, and the maritime and fishing industries have made great progress with well-designed programs to increase safety awareness at sea. A similar effort is needed to address events resulting from medical illness.In addition, vessel owners and their officers, as well as career mariners, must be aware that injuries resulting from repetitive motion can produce significant challenges as the workforce ages. Some high-risk activities include gaffing fish on a longliner, bending on deck, or working in a freezer box-up area.
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