Immersion Suits for Alaskan Commercial Fishermen: An Analysis of Marine Survival Equipment
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Date
2024-06-14
Authors
Lemus, Benjamen
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Oregon
Abstract
Being a commercial fisherman in Alaska is considered one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States. Every year the Bering Sea provides between 5-6 billion pounds of seafood, accounting for about 60% of total U.S. seafood harvests (Capozzi, n.d.-a). Catching this amount of seafood every year is no easy task, and it comes with an enormous amount of risk for the thousands of workers who participate. Workers are often at sea for weeks at a time and safety isn’t guaranteed, with the Bering Sea claiming 88 souls from 2013-2022 (Beacon,2023). Many of the deaths on commercial fishing boats are caused by vessel losses, and men going overboard with improper equipment leading to drownings (Woodford, USCG, 2022). Fishermen risk their lives in this industry to try and fulfill the demand for seafood throughout the country, therefore they should be equipped with superior safety protection equipment that will ensure their safety.
Description
41 pages
Keywords
commercial fishermen, Alaska, commercial fishing, fishing equipment, survival immersion suits, maritime emergencies