Coast Guard announces reopened comment period, public meetings for fishing vessel safety

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship Directorate announced Monday that the comment period for the March 31, 2008, Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking reopened Aug. 12, as part of a regulatory effort to develop amendments to Coast Guard regulations governing commercial, fishing vessels.

The reopening accommodates public meetings rescheduled for November and will allow for public comment until Dec. 15. The ANPRM was published Aug. 12, in the Federal Register (62 FR 16815) and may be downloaded at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/pdf/E8-6477.pdf.

The ANPRM states the Coast Guard's intention to solicit feedback from the commercial fishing industry prior to developing additional regulations. Meetings will be held at the Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, Nov. 21 and 22, from 9 a.m. until noon, during which commercial fishermen and the public may provide oral comments about the proposed regulations. More information about the Pacific Marine Expo meetings can be found at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2008/E8-18532.htm.

Several factors consistently make commercial fishing the country's most hazardous occupation including vessel stability and watertight integrity issues, vessel maintenance and issues related to crew members entering the water. While there have been improvements in safety within the industry since commercial fishing vessel safety regulations were published in 1991, casualty rates remain unacceptably high. Crew safety training and drills have been advocated by the Commercial Fishing Industry Vessel Safety Advisory Committee and the Coast Guard supports an expansion of current requirements.

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