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

Gulf of Mexico 

Commercial Fishing 

Fatalities, 2000-2009

(116 Total)

Gulf of Mexico 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, 116 commercial fishing deaths occurred in the Gulf of Mexico, an average of 12 per year for the 

decade (Fig. 1). Each of the last four years of the decade had fewer deaths than the ten year average, although 

it is unclear if the decrease was a result of lower risk or simply fewer fishermen exposed.

The Gulf of Mexico is the only fishing region of the US that had more fatalities caused by falls 

overboard than by vessel disasters. Almost half (46%) of the total deaths were caused by 

falls overboard. The Gulf of Mexico also had the highest percentage of fatalities due to 

traumatic injuries sustained on-board. Entanglement in fishing gear caused six (40%) of 

the on-board injuries, of which three involved deck winches.

Fatalities occurred in 14 different fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico, but only five had three 

or more fatalities. The shrimp fishery experienced the highest number of occupational 

deaths with 55 fatalities. Falls overboard caused the most deaths among shrimp 

fishermen (29, 53%)(Fig. 2). The remaining fatalities were caused by on-board injuries 

(12, 22%), vessel disasters (10, 18%), and diving injuries (4, 7%).

While the shrimp fishery claimed the highest number of lives during 2000-2009, the 

fatality rate (a measure of risk) was unknown (Fig. 3). 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. Fatality rates for fisheries in the 

Gulf of Mexico were not able to be calculated due to missing workforce data. 

Without fatality rates, it is not possible to compare the risk of the shrimp fishery to 

other fisheries in the Gulf of Mexico and US. 

Vessel disasters often result in multiple fatalities. The 39 deaths due to vessel 

disasters during 2000-2009 took place in 27 separate incidents. Vessel disasters 

were usually caused by a sequence of events, starting with an initiating 

event. The most common initiating events were: flooding, collisions, 

being struck by a large wave or wind gust, and vessel instability 

(Fig 4). Severe weather conditions contributed to 56% of vessel 

disasters.

Falls overboard accounted for 46% of all fatalities in the Gulf of 

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

18

16

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

0

Number of Deaths

20

2009

Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fishing Fatalities 

by Year and Incident Type (116 Total) Figure 1
34%

46%

13%

7%

Gulf of Mexico Commercial Fishing

Fatalities by Incident Type (116 Total)

The Gulf of Mexico shrimp fishery needs special attention 

to reduce the high frequency of fatalities. Falls overboard 

and on-board injuries accounted for the majority of deaths 

during the decade 2000-2009. Focusing on these two 

incident types will result in the most benefit in terms of lives 

saved. Falls overboard were most often the result of trips, 

slips, and losing balance. These types of falls overboard may 

be prevented by raising rails or adding mesh guards, taking 

into consideration vessel stability and functionality of fishing 

gear. Many of the falls overboard were not witnessed, even 

though other crewmembers were onboard the vessel. Manoverboard alarms should be utilized to alert the crew when 

someone falls overboard unnoticed. PFDs should be worn on 

deck at all times and especially when climbing on outriggers.

Fatal injuries on-board shrimp vessels may be reduced by 

installing emergency-stop devices on deck winches and 

other dangerous machinery. Danger zones should be clearly 

marked and crewmembers trained to recognize them.

Mexico during 2000-2009. Falls overboard were caused 

most often by trips, slips, and losing balance (Fig. 5). Ten falls 

overboard fatalities were the result of intentionally entering 

the water, of which five were suicides. Two main factors that 

contributed to falls overboard were working alone on deck 

(44%) and using alcohol or drugs (28%). 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

504030

Number of Deaths

20100

Oyster

Snapper/

Grouper

Crab

Shrimp

Menhaden/

Shad

60

Gulf of Mexico Fisheries with Three or More 

Fatalities During 2000-2009 (88 Total) Figure 3
Fire/

Explosion

Engine

Failure

Struck by Instability

Wind Gust

Struck by

Large Wave

Flooding Collision

5

4

3

2

1

0

Number of Vessel Disasters

6

7

8

Prop

Entanglement

Unknown

Events

Undecked (skiff) Decked

Initiating Events Contributing to Fatal Vessel Disasters, Gulf of Mexico, 2000-2009 

(27 Disasters with 39 Deaths) Figure 4

Gear

Entanglement

Knocked by

Gear/Object

Lost Jumped

Balance

Trip/Slip

Number of Deaths

8

6

4

2

0

10

12

14

16

18

Washed

Over

Unknown

Shrimp Other

Causes of Fatal Falls Overboard, Gulf of Mexico, 2000-2009 (54 Total) 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.

Heed weather forecasts and avoid fishing in severe sea conditions - 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 - 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 re-board 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: 2011-106

November 2010