At a glance
During 2000–2019, 288 commercial fishing deaths due to traumatic injury occurred on the East Coast. While the annual average of deaths was lower in the second decade than the first, there was an overall stable trend in fatalities over the entire 20-year period.
Trends in East Coast Commercial Fishing Fatalities, 2000-2019
| Decade | Annual Average |
|---|---|
| 2000-2009 | 16.5 |
| 2010-2019 | 12.3 |
Quick Stats
During 2000-2019, 288 Fishing Industry Workers Died on the East Coast.
Types of Incidents Causing Fatalities
- Vessel Disaster (143, 50%)
- Fall Overboard (77, 27%)
- Onboard Fatality (42, 15%)
- Onshore Fatality (14, 5%)
- Diving Fatality (12, 4%)
Top Three Causes of Death
- Drowning (234, 81%)
- Blunt Force Trauma (22, 8%)
- Unintentional Overdose (16, 6%)
Fisheries With the Most Fatalities
- Scallop Dredge (53, 18%)
- Lobster (36, 13%)
- Multi-Species Groundfish Trawl (32, 11%)
Content Source:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
- NIOSH Commercial Fishing Incident Database (CFID)