摘要: |
Fishing has always been a dangerous occupation. For centuries, commercial fishers have performed difficult and dangerous work on relatively small, isolated vessels, often under dangerous weather conditions. While loss of life and vessels has always been acknowledged as part of the process of commercial fishing, many other industries with historically poor safety records were able to improve their performance and reduce losses over the course of the 20th century by a combination of technological advances, safety management, and training. Commercial fishing, at least in the U.S., has not made comparable gains. Much of the focus in the debate over fishing vessel safety has been on the inadequacy of safety regulations. However, the authors of this article believe that more attention should be paid to the safety implications of commercial fisheries management practices. It is this area of the industry which serves as the focal point of this discussion. |