Fishing Incidents
Fish Safe Safety Updates are published with the intention of saving lives and reducing injuries when fishing. We’re all better off when we can learn from the incidents and close-calls experienced by others.
Below, please find a summary of the 2019 injuries, incidents and close-calls as reported by WorkSafeBC.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Longline and trap fishing
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2019-Nov
A fishing vessel caught fire when it was 5 miles off a coast. The crew abandoned ship into a life raft and were rescued by another vessel.
Injury Type: Close call
Core Activity: Dive fishing
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2019-Oct
A dive fishing vessel (5.75 metres long) with three workers onboard capsized. The workers climbed onto the overturned hull to await rescue. The Coast Guard picked up the workers and towed the overturned vessel to shore. No injuries were reported.
Injury Type: Fatal
Core Activity: Gillnet and troll fishing
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2019-Sep
During a commercial salmon gillnet opening, a worker was resetting a net. The worker became entangled in the net and was pulled over the stern of the fishing vessel into the water. Other workers fishing in the vicinity retrieved the worker and performed first aid until the ambulance service arrived. The worker succumbed to the injuries.
Injury Type: Smoke inhalation (2 workers)
Core Activity: Trawl fishing
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2019-Jul
A fire erupted in the engine room of a fishing vessel. The fire was extinguished with the assistance of the Coast Guard. The vessel was able to make its way back to the port under tow.
Injury Type: Exposure to a hazardous substance (3 workers)
Core Activity: Trawl fishing
Location: Lower Mainland
Date of Incident: 2019-May
An ammonia leak occurred on a fishing vessel, triggering the alarm and prompting an evacuation. Three workers experienced symptoms including irritation of the eyes and upper respiratory system.
Injury Type: Undetermined injuries (1 worker)
Core Activity: Longline and trap fishing
Location: Vancouver Island/Coastal B.C.
Date of Incident: 2019-Mar
Two deckhands were setting traps from the stern of a crab vessel when one of the workers got wrapped in the outgoing line and was pulled overboard. Crewmembers retrieved the worker from the water. The worker was transferred to a port authority patrol vessel, which transported the worker to shore where emergency services were waiting.