Campaign aims to save lives at sea

New research by industry body Seafish has shown that almost half of commercial fishermen in the UK consider their job to be dangerous, yet one third confessed that they rarely or never wear a potentially lifesaving Personal Flotation Device (PFD).

Over the past year 7,000 new lightweight PFDs, worth £100 each, have been given to fishermen across the UK under various industry-led and EU-funded schemes.

Paul Locker, of Whitby-based Lockers Trawlers, said: "When I was 21 years old I found myself tangled in the trawl and went over the side with the gear as our vessel was moving away at speed. All I had on was my standard oilskins and boots. I remember thinking that if only I had a PFD on all I would have to worry about would be getting back to the vessel, but instead I found myself overcome with fatigue while I was trying to tread water and maintain my composure. I was very lucky and the vessel managed to get back to me.

“Since that day all our team wear PFD's or they don't work for Lockers Trawlers.”

Working closely with the fishing industry, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency, the RNLI and the Fishermen’s Mission, Seafish’s campaign is supporting a Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) initiative to promote the wearing of PFDs by fishermen.

Simon Potten, head of safety, training and services at Seafish said: “The message appears to be getting through, with regular use of PFDs up by 11 per cent. However, there are still a large number of fishermen taking unnecessary risks every time they set foot on the deck at sea without a PFD on."

For more information and to show your support for the safety of fishermen, please visit: http://www.seafish.org or www.facebook.com/seayouhomesafe