Operation Safe Crab looks to help fishermen through rough seas

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Story Published: Nov 26, 2008 at 6:34 PM PST

By Tim Novotny KCBY News

CHARLESTON, ORE - While the Alaskan Crab fisheries are so dangerous thy have their own reality television show, the Pacific Dungeness Crab fishery is actually even more dangerous.

That's according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and one reason why the U. S. Coast Guard has Operation Safe Crab.

As part of their continuing initiative to reduce the number of fisherman's lives lost at sea, they have been conducting vessel safety checks and voluntary dockside exams.

In Charleston, Lt. John Dixon, along with Coast Guard Auxiliary member Tom Curran, has been out walking the docks from November 21st through November 24th.

Among the things they check is the vessel's survival suits, their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, and life-rafts.

The Coast Guard says similar checks in previous years found almost one-third of the Beacons and life-rafts were installed improperly, but say most are easily corrected on the spot.

Dixon says the vessel's that he has seen this year have largely been in good shape, but notes that even minor details can be important while at sea, "when you need this equipment to work, you don't have time to make sure it works at that time. It's too late to do that."

Commercial Dungeness Crabbing vessels operate in some of the winter's worst weather and hazardous waters, and have the highest fatality rate of any West Coast fishery.

The season opens on Monday.

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