Dangers of Entanglement during 

Lobstering 

Summary 

Lobster fishing is a hazardous occupation that has resulted in drownings from 

entanglement in trap line 

and being pulled overboard. 

A survey of 103 lobstermen 

developed recommended 

work practices and controls 

to (1) reduce entanglement, 

(2) escape entanglement, 

and (3) provide opportunities to reboard the vessel. 

Description of 

Exposure 

Commercial fishing has long 

been recognized as a hazardous occupation. The gear used 

in fishing, fatigue, and environmental conditions all contribute to the high number of fatalities in the industry. From 

licensed lobstermen, more than 

2.5 times the national average 

(4.8 per 100,000 workers) for 

all industries. In 1988, Congress enacted the Commercial 

Fishing Industry Vessel Safety 

Act. This Act requires fishing 

vessels to carry safety equipment and certain crew members to have training in first 

aid and conducting emergency 

drills on fishing vessels. However, these regulations did not 

address deck safety. 

Lobsters are caught in traps 

that are placed on the sea bottom and connected to a surface 

buoy by the trap line. One trap 

line can hold more than one 

trap. Lobstermen periodically 

haul traps back into the vessel, 

remove the lobsters, and clean 

and rebait the traps. 

Between 1993 and 1999, seven lobstermen drowned after 

falling overboard [U.S. Coast 

Guard]. USCG investigative 

reports indicate that lobstermen often become entangled 

in loose line on deck, are pulled 

overboard by the traps, and 

drown when they cannot free 

themselves from the line or 

are unable to reboard the vessel. For example, one man who 

was fishing alone was pulled 

into the water when the trap 

line wrapped around his wrist. 

He cut the line but could not 

reboard his fishing vessel. He 

was rescued 45 minutes later by another lobsterman who 

saw his vessel circling aimlessly. Another man became entangled but was able to hail a passing vessel while lying prone on 

the deck of his vessel. 

Harvard/NIOSH Survey 

The Education and Research 

Center at the Harvard School 

1993 to 1997, the occupation- DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

al fatality rate for lobstermen Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

in Maine was 14 per 100,000 National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 1. Lobsterman hauling a single lobster trap. Photograph by Earl Dotter. 

of Public Health and the National Institute for 

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently surveyed lobstermen to 

— gather data on the number of entanglements lobstermen had experienced, 

— identify work practices during which entanglement is most likely to occur, and 

— identify work practices and engineering 

controls to accomplish the following: 

(1) reduce the risk of entanglement in 

line 

(2) help lobstermen escape from an entanglement 

(3) help lobstermen reboard the vessel 

if pulled overboard 

To obtain information for the survey, an interview guide was developed, and 103 lobstermen 

were interviewed during 1999–2000. Nearly 73% of those interviewed responded “yes” 

to the question, “Have you ever been caught in 

trap line where you lost clothing, were pulled to 

the stern, or pulled overboard?” Forty-four percent had been entangled within the last 5 years, 

some more than once. Most lobstermen stated 

that entanglements occurred mainly when setting or moving gear. This is also the time when 

the most line is on the deck (Figure 1). 

Controls 

The survey found several key work practices and 

engineering controls to prevent entanglement injuries and fatalities: 

1. Reduce the risk of entanglement in line by 

controlling the deck environment. Keep the 

deck free of loose lines: 

a. Fairleads: Install an upright, removable 

pole through the washboard to the deck, 

Figure 2. A fairlead mounted into the deck that “leads” 

line out of the boat and minimizes the area where line 

could be a hazard. Illustration by Media Stream. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 3. Line bin made of plywood with a piano hinge 

that allows it to drop open and accept trap rope from the 

pot hauler. Illustration by Media Stream. 

and pass the line in front of the pole to 

lead the line out of the vessel (Figure 2). 

b. Line bins: Mount a hinged panel under 

the pot hauler to catch line while working the lobster traps (Figure 3). 

c. Line lockers: Build a locker under the 

deck below the pot hauler to capture 

the line so that it is not on the deck. 

2. Help lobstermen escape an entanglement by 

stopping the engine and untangling or cutting 

the line: 

a. Sternman: Have a sternman on board 

to shut off the engine in case of entanglement and help untangle the line. 

b. Gagline: Connect a cable to an engine 

shutoff switch and run it under the washboard and across the stern so a lobsterman can cut the engine if he is pulled 

away from the controls (Figure 4). 

Figure 4. Gagline or kill switch for remote engine shutoff. Illustration by Media Stream. 

c. Personal knife: Keep a knife in a sheath 

taped upside down on suspenders to 

cut the line. 

d. Transom-mounted knife: Keep knives 

at the stern, port, and starboard washboards to cut the line. 

3. Help the lobstermen reboard the vessel if 

pulled overboard: 

a. Personal flotation device (PFD): Wear 

a life jacket or inflatable vest. The best 

PFD is the one that is worn! 

b. Sternman: Have a sternman on board 

to aid in rescue. 

c. Ladders: Have ladder or scuppers for 

footholds to reboard vessels. 

Acknowledgments 

The principal contributors to this publication were 

Ann Backus, Thomas Smith, and Paul Brochu, Education and Research Center, Harvard School of Public Health and Jennifer Lincoln, National Institute 

for Occupational Safety and Health. The illustrations by Media Stream, Manchester, NH were used 

with permission from the Education and Research 

Center at the Harvard School of Public Health. 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References 

Backus A, Smith T, Brochu P, Lincoln J, Conway G, Bensyl 

D, Ciampa J [2001]. Understanding and preventing lobsterman entanglement: a preliminary survey. Proceedings 

of the Marine Safety Council, April–June:50–53. 

U.S. Coast Guard. Fatality Files, Marine Safety Office, 

Portland, Maine. 

NIOSH has published many research documents about 

hazards in the commercial fishing industry. These can be 

found at www.cdc.gov/niosh/injury/traumafish.html. 

For More Information 

To receive documents or other information about occupational safety and health topics, contact NIOSH at 

NIOSH Publications 

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or visit the NIOSH Web site at www.cdc.gov/niosh

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eNews by visiting www.cdc.gov/niosh/eNews. 

Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by NIOSH. In addition, citations to Web sites external to NIOSH do not constitute NIOSH endorsement of 

Dangers of Entanglement during Lobstering 

the sponsoring organizations or their programs or products. 

Furthermore, NIOSH is not responsible for the content of 

these Web sites. 

This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted. NIOSH encourages all readers of 

the Workplace Solutions to make them available to all 

interested employers and workers. 

As part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 

NIOSH is the Federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for preventing workrelated illnesses and injuries. All Workplace Solutions are 

based on research studies that show how worker exposures 

to hazardous agents or activities can be significantly reduced. 

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2005–137 

SAFER • HEALTHIER • PEOPLE TM August 2005 

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health 

4676 Columbia Parkway 

Cincinnati, OH 45226–1998