The Real Reasons Crab Fishing Is So Dangerous
A fall into these cold waters is going to take an immediate rescue in order for the person to survive. Sometimes these crabs are expensive because of all that goes into catching them. Now the smaller crab-fishing industries off the coasts of Washington state and California and Oregon can claim the title “deadliest.” That ship’s captain, Glenn Burkhow, told local media that was the first serious accident of his 38-year career.
Part of my finger was cut off during a violent storm when I got knocked off of my feet and landed on an air compressor. I decided against going to the hospital to have it stitched back on because I knew the fishing season could end any day and my crew had mortgages to pay. The crab fisherman has a lot to think about and prepare for in the course of their season, but if it’s a successful and safe season, it certainly will have been worth the preparation. However, when you are trying to complete a job, and the boat moves all around, the crab fishing can send the fisherman all over the place. Although crab fishermen do not need to be in the water, they will be exposed to the water, and they could potentially even fall in the water.
There need to be some supplies and rations for these crab fishermen to get by without all their necessary supplies for a few days. Most people who fish are going to go on a sunny day and sit by the side of a lake, but when it comes to crab fishing, the process is entirely different. Although you can prepare for some of the rough weather conditions by wearing the right clothing, it sometimes won’t be enough to get you through the day. When carrying equipment around or throwing a net over the side of a boat, it is easy for a crab fisherman to get hurt. The boats that crab fishermen are on are going to be stable and large, but they still bounce around a lot.
Since it takes some mental clarity to remember to pull the string, the functionality of these life vests is not always ideal. Typically, these are paper-thin, and when a person goes over, they can pull a cord for the life vest to inflate. Prior to getting a job on the boat, you will have to be able to prove that you can swim. If you don’t have the knowledge of where it is safe to be and where it is not safe to be, the chance of injury is high, and it can happen quickly. At this depth in the ocean and this distance from shore, there are no real calm days. Chances are the only real risk of injury you have is the fact that you could end up with a hook in your finger.
But the weather and waters sometimes clash with the fury of an angry Poseidon. Hauling up nets or cages weighing several hundreds of pounds is hard work. Add pelting rain, rogue waves and icy decks, and that work becomes lethal. Because of the state’s geographical location, the waters are often colder and more unforgiving than other fishing environments. Crab fishing anywhere is one of the deadliest jobs in the United States.
Dion Liriano is a 51-year-old American zookeeper who has retired from the business. He was once a highly successful director of the Zoo and Aquarium, but he has since hung up his gloves and moved on to other ventures. Dion's passion for animals began at a young age, when he would help his father care for their family pets. This love grew exponentially when he started working at the zoo; Dion quickly became one of the most experienced keepers in the business. He credits his success to the relationships he built with both staff and animals over the years.