Seafish Chief Executive John Rutherford was speaking at a memorial service to remember those who lost their lives sailing from Humberside. In his speech he praised the publication of a report by the MAIB into Fishing Vessel Safety between 1992 and 2006. He referred to a “Deep rooted spirit of adventure and fatalistic attitude amongst fishermen that ignores the grief and bereavement of families left behind.”
According to Rutherford deaths this year have been at a similar rate to previous years. Tragically, perhaps half of these fatalities will be of non-UK crew, leaving widows & orphans to grieve elsewhere in the world. The report of MAIB revealed that the rate of fatalities from fishing is 115 times worse than that of the general workforce over last decade. It read that deaths in all other industries have fallen sharply over last 30 years. By contrast there has been no discernable reduction in fishing mortality over the same period.
Rutherford concluded saying that of all the recorded fatalities in last 15 years, only one was wearing any form of lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device (PFD)), and that was not properly fitted. He appeal al the fishermen to encourage safety norms by abiding by all rules of safe and secure fishing.
