As new safety regulations for commercial fishing vessels take effet this summer N.J. fishermen are feeling financial burden. Garrett Norton, a naval architect based in Fair Haven, Mass., said that these regulations are just going to make it harder for an already overburdened industry.
Last October, Congress approved setting new safety regulations in the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. The new rules would establish safety equipment and construction standards for commercial fishing vessels operating beyond three nautical miles of the U.S. coast.
According to Norton these new regulations are estimated to add another 15 to 20 percent to the cost of a new boat if it cannot be built until after July 12 next year. The rules are expected to set more rigorous structural and stability standards, and requirements for watertight compartments and electrical and mechanical systems.
Isaksen said that every fisherman wants to get up-to-date with their boats, and these new regulation would help them in their task. Safety of the captain and crew aboard commercial fishing boats is the reason for the regulations, said Coast Guard spokesman Michael O’Berry, a media relations specialist.
