Alaska Marine Safety

Education Association

Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety News

October 2, 2008

New Edition of Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Digest Released

The Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Digest brings together all the federal regulations applicable to the operation of unispected commercial fishing vessels in one location and in an easy to read and understand format.

First published by the USCG in 1978, the 2008 edition of the Digest is newly revised by AMSEA in cooperation with the USCG and Richard Hiscock, author of the original Digest. All information has been meticulously updated.

The Digest is of valuable to anyone associated with the U.S. commercial fishing industry including individual fishermen, fleet operators, instructors/trainers, equipment providers, USCG personnel, and others involved with the industry.

The 2008 Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Digest is available for download here. It will also be made available in a print version in November 2008.

Download the Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Digest
98 pages, 1.4 MB

June 20, 2008

Clean-Up Effort Removes Old Fishing Gear From Beaches

Above, a crew from the Tribal Ecosystem Conservation Office removes a huge trawl net
from a St. Paul island beach. Photo courtesy of Bob King, MCAF

"It was a huge piece of net, the biggest thing I've ever seen washed up on a beach.  Was the entire codend and chaffer gear – and more – of what our net experts think was a Korean trawl.  Had a relatively small mesh and could have been used for pollock or any groundfish and was probably very old.  The metal gear was heavily rusted," notes Bob King of the Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation (MCAF). "We came across it on the Polovina Rookery late Thursday and the entire crew spent all Friday morning cutting it up.  It filled the whole flatbed truck."

King was part of an effort earlier this month to remove lost and discarded fishing gear and other debris from beaches on St. Paul Island. AMSEA's Jerry Dzugan and Deborah Mercy, a videographer with the University of Alaska Marine Advisory Program (MAP), were also on hand. They were at work on a film,which AMSEA and MAP are producing with funding through MCAF.

The video, due out in November, will provide information about how marine debris affects the safety, health and economics of the commercial fishing industry. See AMSEA's download page for other materials produced on this topic thanks to funding from MCAF.

Below, Jerry Dzugan of AMSEA lends a hand during the recent clean-up on St. Paul Island.
Photo courtesy of Bob King, MCAF

May 20, 2008

Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations Proposed

On March 31, 2008 an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) on fishing vessel safety was published in the Federal Register. The U.S. Coast Guard is soliciting comments from the industry and public regarding potential regulations on: stability of fishing vessels between 50 and 70 feet, stability training, vessel maintenance and self examinations, crew preparedness, training and drills, survival equipment, excess or outdated equipment and other topics.

The entire proposal contained in the Federal Register is available at the Coast Guard fishing vessel safety website at www.fishsafe.info. Comments are encouraged and the deadline for submission is July 29, 2008

May 16, 2008

Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel  Safety Advisory Committee (CFIVSAC)

The 28th meeting of the CFIVSAC will take place in New Orleans May 28-30, 2008. Topics will include: new safety proposals in the ANPRM, reports on the sinking of the Alaska Ranger, survival equipment updates, meetings of the subcommittees on Risk and Communications, and other topics as well as comments from the public. The meeting is being held at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel.