It's Never Going to Happen to Me…Until it Does: A Summary of Safety Related Incidents Encountered By Observers in the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program

NOAA’s Fisheries Service has adopted minimum safety training standards that have been deemed critical in preparing observers for the hazards associated with commercial fishing operations. These standards include risk awareness, emergency response, CPR/first aid, a pre-trip safety checklist and at-sea survival. This training is the most important aspect in preparing an observer for the job however; it does not guarantee immunity from encountering emergencies while at sea. Since 2010, the USCG has documented over a thousand casualties, including 19 deaths, which have occurred in the northeast commercial fishing industry. A summary of the Northeast Fisheries Observer Program (NEFOP) data shows that observers have reported 131 safety related incidents between 2010 and 2015. These include safety concerns (weather, unsafe vessel operation, etc.), flooding, fire, collisions, groundings and injuries. Observers demonstrated the invaluableness of their safety awareness by responding to these incidents using the knowledge and skills they acquired through their NEFOP training. This demonstrates an integral role that an observer has played in the preparedness and competency when reacting to emergency situations at sea. With this, we can surmise that safety culture and safety at sea in the commercial fishing industry may be enhanced by the presence of fisheries observers.