Vol 62, No 3 (2010)
Original article
Published online: 2010-12-06
Human and fishing vessel losses in sea accidents in the UK fishing industry from 1948 to 2008
IMH 2010;62(3):143-153.
Abstract
Objective. To investigate long-term trends in mortality rates for accidents to fishing vessels in the UK fishing industry from 1948 to 2008; to investigate the circumstances and causes of these fishing vessel accidents and trends in fishing vessel losses.
Material and methods. Examination of paper death inquiry files, death registers, marine accident investigative files, annual casualty and death returns.
Results. Of 1039 fatalities from accidents to UK fishing vessels from 1948 to 2008, most (65%) resulted from vessels that foundered (or capsized or disappeared), followed by vessels grounding (21%), collisions (7%), and fires and explosions (5%). There was a significant increase over time of 1.04% per year in the overall fishing vessel loss rate and for vessels that foundered (5.19%), a reduction for vessels grounding (1.13%), but no trends for collisions or fires and explosions. Regarding mortality, there was a significant reduction over time for grounding (1.44%) and a non-significant reduction for vessel accidents overall, but no trends for other types of vessel accident. Mortality was highest during the winter months (for foundering and grounding), during night time (for grounding, fires and explosions), and afternoons (foundering and collisions). Since 1976, most fatalities from collisions (83%) occurred in the English Channel and North Sea, while 49% from grounding occurred off the west coast of Scotland.
Conclusion. The mortality rate from fishing vessel casualties in UK fishing is still very high. Fatalities in recent years have often been linked to fishing vessels that are unstable, overloaded, and unseaworthy.
References
- Food and Food and Agriculture Organization. The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2008. Rome: United Nations, Food and Agriculture Organization, Fisheries and Aquaculture DepartmentAgriculture Organization. The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2008. 2009.
- International Labour Organisation. Safety and Health in the Fishing Industry. Geneva: International Labour Office, Geneva 2000.
- Schilling RS, Schilling RS. Hazards of deep-sea fishing. Br J Ind Med. 1971; 28(1): 27–35.
- Hansen A, Odvar O, Tresselt D, Sagen I, Endal A. Report of the Safety Commission for the Fishing Fleet. Trondheim, Norway: Safety Commission for the Fishing Fleet, Trondheim 1986.
- Schnitzer PG, Landen DD, Russell JC. Occupational injury deaths in Alaska's fishing industry, 1980 through 1988. Am J Public Health. 1993; 83(5): 685–688.
- Driscoll TR, Ansari G, Harrison JE, et al. Traumatic work related fatalities in commercial fishermen in Australia. Occup Environ Med. 1994; 51(9): 612–616.
- Causes and Circumstances of Deaths of Polish Seafarers During Sea Voyages. J Travel Med. 1996; 3(2): 91–95.
- Jaremin B, Kotulak E. Mortality in the Polish small-scale fishing industry. Occup Med (Lond). 2004; 54(4): 258–260.
- Lincoln JM, Conway GA. Preventing commercial fishing deaths in Alaska. Occup Environ Med. 1999; 56(10): 691–695.
- Roberts SE. Occupational mortality in British commercial fishing, 1976-95. Occup Environ Med. 2004; 61(1): 16–23.
- Laursen LH, Hansen HL, Jensen OC. Fatal occupational accidents in Danish fishing vessels 1989-2005. Int J Inj Contr Saf Promot. 2008; 15(2): 109–117.
- Jin Di, Kite-Powell H, Talley W. The safety of commercial fishing: Determinants of vessel total losses and injuries. Journal of Safety Research. 2001; 32(2): 209–228.
- O'Connor PJ, O'Connor N. Work-related maritime fatalities. Accid Anal Prev. 2006; 38(4): 737–741.
- Marine Accident Investigation Branch.. Report on the analysis of fishing vessel accident data, 1992–2000. Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Southampton 2002.
- Jaremin B, Kotulak E, Starnawska M, et al. Death at sea: certain factors responsible for occupational hazard in Polish seamen and deep-sea fishermen. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 1997; 10(4): 405–416.
- Thomas TK, Lincoln JM, Husberg BJ, et al. Is it safe on deck? Fatal and non-fatal workplace injuries among Alaskan commercial fishermen. Am J Ind Med. 2001; 40(6): 693–702.
- Marine Accident Investigation Branch. Analysis of UK Fishing Vessel Safety 1992 to 2006. Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Southampton 2008.
- Petursdottir G, Hjoervar T, Snorrason H. Fatal accidents in the Icelandic fishing fleet 1980-2005. Int Marit Health. 2007; 58(1-4): 47–58.
- Ministry of Transport. Shipping casualties and deaths: vessels registered in the United Kingdom, returns for 1948–1963 [annual returns]. London,.
- Board of Trade.. Shipping casualties and deaths: vessels registered in the United Kingdom, returns for 1964–1968 [annual returns]. HMSO, London : 1965–1969.
- Depar tment of Trade and Industry. Shipping casualties and deaths: vessels registered in the United Kingdom, returns for 1969–1971 London,.
- Department of Industry.. Shipping casualties and deaths: vessels registered in the United Kingdom, return for 1972 [annual return]. HMSO, London .
- Department of Trade. Casualties to vessels and accidents to men. Vesels registered in the United Kingdom returns for 1973–1975 London,.
- Board of Trade. www.plimsoll.org/WrecksAndAccidents/ /wreckreports/default.asp (2010).
- www.hulltrawler.net (2010).
- Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. United Kingdom sea fisheries statistics, 1948–1954 [annual returns] London,.
- Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food. United Kingdom sea fisheries statistics London,.
- Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs. United Kingdom sea fisheries statistics, returns for 1999–2008 London, 2000-2009.
- Reilly MS. Mortality from occupational accidents to United Kingdom fishermen 1961-80. Br J Ind Med. 1985; 42(12): 806–814.
- Roberts SE. Hazardous occupations in Great Britain. Lancet. 2002; 360(9332): 543–544.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Commercial fishing fatalities — California, Oregon, and Washington, 2000–2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2008; 42: 350–351.
- Aasjord HL. Tools for improving safety management in the Norwegian Fishing Fleet occupational accidents analysis period of 1998-2006. Int Marit Health. 2006; 57(1-4): 76–84.
- United States Coast Guard. Analysis of fishing vessel casualties: a review of lost fishing vessels and crew fatalities, 1992–2007. United States Coast Guard, Washington 2008.
- Schilling RS. Trawler fishing: an extreme occupation. Proc R Soc Med. 1966; 59(5): 405–410.
- Jensen OC. Health hazards while fishing in heavy weather. Occup Environ Med. 1997; 54(2): 141.
- Marine Accident Investigation Branch. Report of the investigations of the foundering of fv Kathryn Jane 4.6 nm west of Skye on or about 28 July 2004, with the loss of the skipper and one possible crew member, the capsize and foundering of the fv Emerald Dawn off Kilkeel on 10 November 2004, the foundering of fv Jann Denise II 5 miles SSE of the River Tyne on 17 November 2004 with the loss of two of her crew. Southampton: Marine Accident Investigation Branch. Marine Accident Investigation Branch, Southampton 2005.
- Roberts SE. Britain's most hazardous occupation: commercial fishing. Accid Anal Prev. 2010; 42(1): 44–49.
- Brown ISH, Wheatley JHW. Circumstances of collisions and strandings in the Dover Strait area. : 1968–1971.
- Bowdidge ID. Collisions and strandings in the Dover Strait area 1960–1976. National Maritime Institute, London 1977.
- Squire D. The Hazards of Navigating The Dover Strait (Pas-de-Calais) Traffic Separation Scheme. Journal of Navigation. 2003; 56(2): 195–210.
- Spitzer JD. Dying to fish living to fish: Fishing Vessel Casualty Task Force Repor t, March 1999. US Coastguard, Washington DC 1999.
