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For the first year-long period on record, from Oct. 1, 2014, through the end of September 2015, the Coast Guard recorded zero operations-related commercial fishing fatalities in Alaska, a milestone in an industry known for its “Deadliest Catch” persona.
In an article in Alaska Fish & Wildlife News, published by the state Department of Fish & Game, the change is credited partly to management practices that have been making the industry safer for years. But also, the article notes, fewer people are fishing.
Through much of the 1980s, an average of 31 fishermen died in Alaska each year, according to the report.
All of my life I have been told that you could make some REAL money commercial fishing, if you survived that is.
And yes the deaths were numerous, and I knew at least one person who never made it back from one particular fishing season.
Over the years the number of deaths has slowly decreased though even back in 2008 commercial fishing was referred to as the deadliest job in America.
Really hard to tell if the reason for this milestone has more to do with safety precautions or the fact that there are far fewer boats on the water.
Either way, it is indeed a milestone.
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