The wearing of lifejackets is to be made compulsory for fishermen. The Minister for the Marine has confirmed to RTÉ News that this will be included in new legislation making safety training mandatory in the industry. Frank Fahey said that, following the high number of deaths at sea last year, the Health and Safety Authority was strongly supporting his decision.
Few occupations are as hazardous as fishing, and last saw a particularly high number of fatal incidents at sea. While helicopter rescues saved many lives, 27 fishermen still died and investigations have not yet been completed into the tragedies, which included the loss of four West Cork fishermen in the St. Gervaise sinking at Mizen Head. The industry is experiencing a shortage of fishing crews and untrained men have been going to sea to make up numbers.
There has been increasing pressure for mandatory safety training. While fishing boats must carry lifejackets aboard for all crew members, there has previously been no compulsion to wear them. Now the Minister for the Marine, Frank Fahey, has confirmed to RTE News that he intends to introduce new legislation which will make safety training for fishermen mandatory, as well as the compulsory wearing of lifejackets. This is a major change. Bord Iascaigh Mhara is to liase with the industry organisations on the drawing up of the legislation.
