According to the press release of the board the two-day forum will be chaired by NTSB Board Member Robert Sumwalt. Member Sumwalt said that in 2009, commercial fishing had the highest fatal work injury rate of all occupations in the United States. He added that NTSB main aim is to create a safer environment and eliminate hazardous conditions on the high seas.The forum will provide a great opportunity to identify strategies to improve safety.
NTSB has done a safety study in 1987 which addressed safety in the commercial fishing industry. It has also issued 150 recommendations issued since 1970 as a result of fishing vessel accidents. NTSB said that the forum is intended to identify safety issues in the commercial fishing industry – from both industry and government perspectives – and to identify strategies for preventing accidents and reducing the industry’s high rate of injuries and fatalities.
Panelists participating in the forum will include representatives of the commercial fishing industry, safety equipment manufacturers, marine safety trainers, classification societies, marine surveyors, and federal agencies involved with the industry.
