Fatal Occupational Injuries in the U.S. 

Commercial Fishing Industry:

Risk Factors and Recommendations

Vessel Disaster

Fall Overboard

On-Board Injury

On-Shore Injury

Diving Injury

West Coast Commercial 

Fishing Fatalities,

2000-2009 (86 Total)

West Coast Region
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the federal government agency responsible 

for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related injury and illness. 

NIOSH recently completed an in-depth study of commercial fishing fatalities in the United States during 2000-2009. 

The purpose of the study was to identify the most hazardous fisheries around the country and to describe the 

unique safety issues in each. For this study the US was divided into four fishing regions: Alaska, West Coast, East 

Coast, and the Gulf of Mexico. This document is one in a set of four reports summarizing fatality data for US fishing 

regions.

About This Report

During 2000-2009, 86 commercial fishing deaths occurred off the West Coast of the 

US, an average of 9 per year (Fig. 1). Almost 70% of the deaths were caused by 

drowning following a vessel disaster (e.g. sinking, capsizing, fire, etc) in which 

the crew was forced to abandon ship. During two years (2001 and 2006) 

vessel disasters were the sole cause of commercial fishing fatalities. About 

one-quarter (24%) of fatalities were the result of falls overboard (Fig. 2). The 

remaining fatalities were due to traumatic injuries sustained on-board, while 

diving or on-shore.

Five fisheries contributed to 55% of fatalities on the West Coast during 2000-2009 

(Fig. 3). Sixteen other fisheries had less than three fatalities each. The Dungeness 

crab fishery experienced the highest number of occupational deaths with 27 

fatalities. Vessel disasters caused the most deaths among Dungeness crab 

fishermen (78%). The remaining fatalities were caused by falls overboard. 

Tribal salmon fishermen operating on the Columbia River had the next 

highest number of fatalities for a single fishery, with 10 deaths. All were 

the result of set-net skiffs capsizing. All but one of these incidents 

occurred in adverse weather conditions.

The fatality rate for the Dungeness crab fishery for the period 2000-

2009 was 310 deaths per 100,000 full-time equivalent workers. The 

fatality rate accounts for the number of workers and exposure time 

on the water, and provides a way to compare risk using a common 

denominator. The fatality rate for the tribal salmon fishery was not 

able to be calculated due to missing workforce data.

Vessel disasters often result in multiple fatalities. The 58 deaths due to 

vessel disasters during 2000-2009 took place in 32 separate incidents. 

Vessel disasters were usually caused by a sequence of events, 

starting with an initiating event. The most common initiating events 

were: flooding, being struck by a large wave, and crossing a 

river bar during hazardous conditions (Fig. 4). In addition, severe 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Number of Deaths

10

8

6

4

2

0

12

2009

West Coast Commercial Fishing Fatalities 

by Year and Incident Type (86 Total) Figure 1
68%

24%

5%

1% 2%

West Coast Commercial Fishing

Fatalities by Incident Type (86 Total)

marine safety training and increasing PFD usage (Read full report at http://www.

cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5716a2.htm). Since the report, the US Coast 

Guard implemented stricter safety guidelines for all vessels crossing river bars, and 

the Oregon Dungeness Crab Commission has increased fleet participation in safety 

training programs and has sponsored rebates for crew members to purchase PFDs. 

Incremental progress in implementing these recommendations has been made, but it 

is too early to determine their impact.

The tribal salmon fishery on the Columbia River claimed many lives during 2000-2009, 

and all of the deaths were attributed to a single cause: skiffs capsizing on the river. 

All but one of the skiffs capsized after being swamped by waves in poor weather 

conditions. To prevent deaths on these skiffs, fishermen should wear a PFD in the 

skiff, especially in bad weather. Avoid going out in conditions that exceed the safe 

operating limits of the skiff. Finally, have emergency communications equipment onboard to call for help.

The Dungeness crab and tribal salmon fisheries 

have the highest number of fatalities on the West 

Coast. In 2008, NIOSH reviewed commercial 

fishing deaths that occurred along the West Coast 

and Alaska. The report identified the Dungeness 

crab fleet as having a higher fatality rate than 

the Bering Sea and Aleutian Island crab fleet and 

made recommendations including activities that 

would result in better weather reporting, safer 

procedures for crossing river bars, continued 

weather conditions contributed to 78% of vessel disasters.

During 2000-2009, 21 Dungeness crab fishermen died in 10 

separate vessel disasters. There were also 16 other vessel 

disasters in which all the fishermen survived. Crossing a bar in 

hazardous conditions led to 40% of fatal vessel disasters (Fig. 

5). None of the non-fatal vessel disasters involved crossing 

a bar. Vessel instability led to both fatal and non-fatal 

disasters, but was slightly more likely to be involved in fatal 

disasters. Several initiating events only resulted in non-fatal 

vessel disasters, such as flooding and striking rocks.

Falls overboard accounted for 24% of all fatalities in the West 

Coast commercial fishing industry during 2000-2009. Falls 

overboard were caused most often by tripping or slipping on 

deck and by entanglement in fishing gear (Fig. 6). Factors 

that contributed to falls overboard were: working alone on 

deck (52%), using alcohol or drugs (19%), and poor weather 

conditions (14%). None of the victims of falls overboard were 

wearing a Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

Vessel Disaster

Fall Overboard

On-Board Injury

On-Shore Injury

Diving Injury

Data Key

Conclusions

Figure 2

West Coast Fisheries with Three or More 

Fatalities During 2000-2009 (47 Total)

0 5 10 15 20 25

Tribal

Salmon

Non-Tribal

Salmon

Number of Deaths

Shrimp

Cod

Dungeness

Crab

30

Figure 3
Prop

Entanglement

Engine Collision

Faliure

Crossing Instability

Hazardous Bar

Struck by 

Large Wave

Flooding

10

8

6

4

2

0

Number of Vessel Disasters

12

Unknown

Events

Undecked (skiff) Decked

Initiating Events Contributing to Fatal Vessel Disasters, West Coast, 2000-2009 

(32 Disasters with 58 Deaths) Figure 4

Washed Jumped

Over

Lost

Balance

Gear

Entanglement

Trip/Slip

Number of Deaths

4

3

2

1

0

5

6

7

Unknown

Causes of Fatal Falls Overboard, West Coast, 2000-2009 (21Total) Figure 6

Fatal (n=10)

Engine Fire/Explosion

Failure

Struck by

Large Wave

Crossing Bar Instability Flooding Struck Rocks

Percent of Vessel Disasters

40

20

0

60

Collision

Non-Fatal (n=16)

Initiating Events Contributing to Fatal and Non-fatal Vessel Disasters in the West 

Coast Dungeness Crab Fishery, 2000-2009 Figure 5
Take a marine safety class at least once every 5 years - Safety training for fishermen is available, 

affordable, and saves lives. All fishermen should learn and know how to use basic lifesaving equipment 

like immersion suits, life rafts, EPIRBs, and fire extinguishers.

Do monthly drills: Abandon ship, Flooding, Fire - Safety training equips fishermen with survival skills and 

knowledge. Monthly drills give fishermen an opportunity to practice and re-enforce those skills.

Test immersion suit for leaks - When watertight, immersion suits provide thermal protection and flotation 

in cold water. If an immersion suit has leaks, it will provide less protection from cold water. Instructions for 

inflation testing immersion suits are available at www.amsea.org.

Heed weather forecasts and avoid fishing in severe sea conditions - Hazardous weather conditions 

contributed to nearly 80% of vessel disasters off the West Coast during 2000-2009, and the deaths of 52 

fishermen. Make the decision to stay in port when the seas are too rough for your vessel to operate in. 

Keep track of forecasts and seek shelter before the storm arrives or intensifies beyond the safe operating 

limits of your vessel.

Maintain watertight integrity - Flooding is the most common initiating event for vessel disasters on 

the West Coast. Inspect and maintain the hull of your vessel and all through-hull fittings. When seas 

are rough, ensure that watertight doors and hatches are sealed. Inspect and test high water alarms 

regularly.

RECOMMENDATIONS

Vessel Disasters

Falls Overboard

Wear a PFD on deck - Falls overboard occur without warning or time to prepare. A PFD stowed away 

onboard will not help float a fisherman who has fallen overboard. Wearing a PFD on deck is the single 

most important thing a fisherman can do to increase survivability following a fall 

overboard. There are many new styles of PFDs which have been evaluated by 

fishermen in real working conditions and are comfortable to work in on deck. 

Results of the NIOSH PFD study are available at www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/

fishing. 

Utilize a man overboard alarm system - Man overboard alarms are devices 

which alert others instantly to a fall overboard emergency, even if the fall 

was not witnessed. Systems vary in features and cost, but even the most 

inexpensive and basic system can save lives by immediately sounding an 

alarm if a fisherman falls overboard. Some of these systems can also benefit 

fishermen who work alone on small vessels by shutting down the engine if 

the sole operator falls overboard. This gives the fisherman, especially one 

prepared by wearing a PFD, a chance to get back to the vessel and reboard it.

Conduct monthly man-overboard drills - If you fell overboard, would 

you want it to be the first time your crewmates tried to recover a 

man-overboard? Practicing man-overboard recovery procedures 

is essential for a crew to perform well in an actual emergency.

On-Board Injuries

Install emergency stop (e-stop) devices on deck machinery 

- Deck machinery, especially deck winches, are particularly 

hazardous and result in many fatal and non-fatal injuries. 

Emergency-stop buttons have been developed specifically for 

deck machinery on fishing vessels and can be adapted and 

retrofitted onto any winch or other machinery. More information 

about e-stops for fishing vessels can be found at www.cdc.gov/

niosh/topics/fishing.
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

Alaska Pacific Regional Office

NIOSH Commercial Fishing Safety Research Program

Jennifer Lincoln and Devin Lucas

4230 University Drive, Suite 310

Anchorage, AK 99508

P: 907-271-2382

F: 907-271-2390

cdc.gov/niosh/topics/fishing

Twitter: @NIOSHFishing

Department of Health and Human Services

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

DHHS (NIOSH) Publication Number: 2011-104

November 2010