Originally Posted by
pinhead44
. Older vessels would have to meet an alternate set of Coast Guard safety standards by 2018.
Some fishermen say the provisions impose too much expensive and cumbersome regulations that the Coast Guard, already struggling to shoulder its current responsibilities, would be hard-pressed to carry out.
"While some of these amendments are worthwhile, others are extremely costly with no net benefit in increased safety to the commercial-fishing industry," wrote Mark Vinsel, executive director of United Fishermen of Alaska, in a Nov. 5, 2007, letter to Rep. Don Young, R-Alaska.
The group is an umbrella organization for 38 fishing groups, including eight based in Washington, and represents some 5,000 fishermen.
Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., is chairwoman of a Senate subcommittee that oversees Coast Guard reauthorization legislation, and thus would help to forge final legislation that would emerge from a joint Senate and House conference.
She wants fishing-vessel safety improved in a way that makes sense and is still reviewing the House provisions, said spokeswoman Kathie Rothenberger.
Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., is supportive of new safety provisions, but says there needs to be a focus on how the new standards can be met, according to spokeswoman Alex Glass.
Since the passage of the 1988 legislation, U.S. commercial-fishing death rates have declined, especially off Alaska. But the 2007 fatality rate — 1.15 per 10,000 — was still more than 20 times the average fatality rate for all U.S. occupations.
The risks in commercial fishing were highlighted in March, when the Alaska Ranger went down in the Bering Sea, and five of the 47-member crew died.