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Commercial Fisheries News
Volume 33 Number 3
November 2005
NMFS to require dockside safety decals on boats taking observers
FALMOUTH, MA - In hopes of ensuring the safety of federal fisheries observers at sea, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) is adopting new rules to require all vessels to have current fishing vessel safety exam decals before an observer can go out for a trip.
Vessels that are selected to carry an observer and don’t have the Coast Guard dockside exam decal will be considered “unsafe for the purposes of carrying an observer,” and the owner will be required to fix any safety deficiencies and get a decal before being allowed to fish – with or without the NMFS observer on board.
A letter to fishermen posted on the NMFS Northeast Fisheries Science Center Fisheries Sampling Branch web site indicates the new requirement will go into effect on May 1, 2006.
“Vessels that are required to carry an observer but are inadequate or unsafe for purposes of carrying an observer are prohibited from fishing without observer coverage,” the letter states.
“Enforcement action may result when a vessel is required to take an observer, does not meet the safety requirements thereby not being able to take an observer, and they continue to fish,” it continues.
In addition to requiring a current decal, meaning one obtained within the last two years, captains must allow the observer to visually inspect the boat’s safety gear, and the observers are required to complete a pre-trip safety check of the vessel’s emergency equipment.
NMFS is also encouraging observers to review emergency instructions and drills with the captain before the vessel leaves port.
“Safety is a huge issue,” said Fisheries Sampling Branch Chief David Potter, who oversees the observer program. “In the last year, four boats went down. One vessel caught on fire with an observer on board.”
No observers were injured in the incidents, but they could have been, Potter added.
He said the visual inspection was critical because a decal from the Coast Guard only means that a vessel was in compliance with safety regulations on the day the decal was issued.
“A safety decal is not going to save your life,” Potter said. “A safety check might.”
Potter added that he is aware some boats can’t get a safety decal because they aren’t equipped with waste holding tanks.
Since it’s not his intention to stop such a vessel from fishing, Potter said he is working to create a waiver of the decal requirement in such cases as long as the vessel meets all other Coast Guard safety requirements.
Safety exams
Anyone can request a free dockside safety exam from the Coast Guard. No fines or enforcement actions will be levied against the vessel, owner, or master for failure to meet safety requirements during the exam.
To schedule an exam or for more information, call the Marine Safety Office nearest you:
• Portland, ME – (207) 780-3256;
• Boston, MA – (617) 223-3045;
• Providence, RI and Cape Cod – (508) 999-0072;
• Long Island Sound, covering New York and Connecticut – (203) 468-4437;
• Baltimore, MD – (410) 576-2526;
• Hampton Roads, VA – (757) 668-5535;
• Philadelphia, PA – (215) 271-4852;
• Wilmington, NC – (910) 772-2231; and
• Atlantic Beach, NC – (252) 247-4562.
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