COAST GUARD ISLAND, ALAMEDA, Calif., - Commercial fishing continues to be one of the most dangerous jobs in America, and crab fishing is the most deadly of all fisheries. Every year, California fishermen lose their life during crab season, and West Coast crabbing vessels continue to have the highest fatality rate of any West Coast fishery.

California's crab season begins on November 15th for the Central coast (Avila-Morro Bay to the mouth of the Russian River) and December 1st for the Northern coast (Fort Bragg to the Oregon border).

U.S. Coast Guard personnel will be conducting safety spot-checks and encouraging voluntary dockside exams in various Central and Northern California ports prior to the local crab opening in an effort to reduce the loss of lives and fishing vessels in the West Coast crab fleet.

Coast Guard personnel will be walking the docks and spot-checking crab vessels for the required primary lifesaving equipment. They will also be spot-checking for pot-loading practices affecting stability and vessel watertight integrity. These safety checks have reduced the number of potential casualties; as an example, previous year's statistics show that nearly one-third of EPIRB's (Emergency Positioning Indicating Radio Beacons) and life rafts are installed incorrectly. This type of situation is easily corrected on the spot and has helped prevent needless tragedies at sea for California's crab fleet. Crab vessels with serious safety discrepancies, such as overloading, lack of watertight integrity, missing primary life saving equipment or non-functioning EPIRB's can be restricted from operating until the discrepancies are corrected.

California crab fishers are strongly encouraged to contact their local Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety dockside examiner with any questions. Implemented in 1991, the Coast Guard's Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Program is designed to help commercial fishermen identify and eliminate potential safety hazards. Free vessel safety assessments, EPIRB testing, training on stability, safety drills and damage control, as well as required placards and literature are available. Successful completion of a dockside exam can also make any future Coast Guard boarding at sea greatly abbreviated.