Ongoing fatalities in the fishing sector

Reviewing fishing safety

SOUTH AFRICA: Following a renewed spike in incidents during 2024, a total of 429 fishers have lost their lives in the South African fishing industry over the last 28 years with 2002 recording an alarming 57 deaths and 1999, 51 deaths.

Deputy COO of the South African Maritime Safety Authority, Captain Vernon Keller, revealed these statistics during the Fish Platform Meeting held in Cape Town this week as he highlighted that the majoring of the vessels operating in the sector were over 40 years old.

Although admitting that an older vessel is not necessarily less safe that a newer vessel, Keller did highlight that unreported modifications as well as a lack of maintenance over the vessel’s lifespan will result in a compromised boat.

Providing clarification on the types of modifications that could change the handling of a vessel, Keller noted that many of these were made in attempt to diversify, increase or change the type of fishing activities being undertaken on board.

Highlighting several factors impacting safety within the fishing industry, Keller also admitted that the human element still plays a significant role in determining overall safety statistics within the sector where commercial pressure as well as a lack of training also play their part in incidents at sea.

Some discussion by Keller about the tendency of skippers to rely on their “gut feelings” was echoed by other presenters during the meeting as they noted that generational fishing communities relied on “how things had always been done” to justify their reluctance to change behaviour on the water.

“There is a potential danger in using a fishing vessel’s “feel” to determine if it is safe from capsizing and gives a false sense of security as it may be too late to try and correct the problem by the time it “feels” unsafe,” said Keller.

With new regulations in the pipeline for small vessels as well as the fishing sector as a whole, Keller reported that programmes for upskilling small scale fishers, including the provision of personal safety training courses, are on the agenda for the Authority next year.

PHOTO: The Restless Wave in 2022 capsized while engaged in purse seine fishing, resulting in water ingress within both aft and forward accommodations, wheelhouse, engine room compartment and lower forecastle store.