To Your Health: How to stay safe when you fish alone

By Ann Backus, MS

Maine has a variety of fisheries. Those who fish for lobster, clams, and who practice aquaculture are more likely to fish alone than those in the scallop or multispecies fisheries. These fisheries are often managed by sole proprietors, i.e., involve self-employed fishermen. Single-handed fishermen use various sizes of boats, but generally fish within three miles of shore.

Lobster Institute Photo.

In these fisheries, less complicated fishing gear means a person can fish alone. Lobstermen find it easy to manage a vessel underpower while setting and hauling traps; hand-harvest fishermen such as clammers and oyster fishermen may use a boat to transit to a clam flat or oyster farm. Aquaculturists use a boat to service their fishing location if it is offshore.

Contributors to single-handed fishing risks

The risks of single-handed fishing begin with the individual fishermen. They should be in good physical and mental health. Fishermen who are fatigued, have uncontrolled cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, or uncontrolled diabetes are at risk. A heart attack, seizure or low-sugar event without a second person to render aid could be fatal. Similarly, fishermen should not be under the influence of controlled substances as their observational and decision-making skills will be compromised. Mental health is also extremely important. Fishermen who are feeling stressed may not have optimal situational awareness and focus.

For lobstermen, entanglement in trap rope is a special risk. We have unfortunately seen too many fatalities as the result of fishermen being pulled overboard while entangled in trap rope. Tylar Michaud went overboard while fishing alone, presumably after becoming entangled in trap rope, in 2023. Man-overboard fatalities have happened without entanglement as well.

The weather may present a risk. A storm may come up or fog roll-in leaving a small-boat fisherman without radar at risk of being swamped, crashing into rocks, or at risk of losing their sense of direction and unable to return to port. This winter, icing was a major risk.

Inexperience, lack of situational awareness, lack of training or suitable safety equipment, or an unseaworthy boat are especially risky for single-handed fishermen.

Risk reduction

Risk mitigation can happen before even stepping onto your boat alone.

Health and self-knowledge: For single-handed fishermen being in good physical and mental health removes many risks. Knowledge of your strengths will go a long way to helping decide how to support your safety while fishing. For example, fishermen who cannot swim should wear a PFD when in the boat (of course, it is recommended that all fishermen wear one.) Single-handed fishermen should also know the limits of their boat and their ability to handle it in adverse situations.

License and training: To obtain a lobster license in Maine, a fishermen must complete the lobster apprenticeship program, which includes First Aid and CPR, a drill conductor course, and multiple hours of on-board mentoring with experienced fishermen. The required drill conductor course includes fire suppression, stopping leaks, how to make a Mayday call, and self-rescue techniques, to name a few components. The drill conductor course is so valuable that all fishermen — deckhands, sternmen, captains — in all fisheries should take this course with a certified drill conductor instructor.

Single-handed fishermen should inform family members where and during what hours they intend to fish. If the situation warrants it, a formal written float plan could be left behind with family. If family members have in hand a description of the boat, its registration number and, if present, the 9-digit Digital Selective Calling (DSC) number as a minimum, they will be able to provide that information to a search and rescue team along with the float plan information.

Equipment: For single-handed fishermen or clammers operating a small skiff, the minimum equipment should be a Personal Floatation Device (PFD/life vest) worn, not stowed under the seat, a Personal Locator Beacon clipped to clothing, knives (worn on overalls and mounted in the boat), a First Aid kit, a flarekit, and a hand-held radio if possible, or cell phone if fishing close to shore.

For single-handed fishermen in larger vessels, safety equipment should include the USCG-required equipment as determined by vessel size and fishing location, such as a PFD, a VHF radio monitoring Channel 16, an EPIRB, fire extinguishers, an immersion suit, and a hydrostatic release life raft. Depending on the capacity of the boat, any of these safety items, such as EPIRBs, make sense to carry even if not required by Coast Guard.

Additional equipment not required by the USCG but recommended would include a damage control kit for temporary fixes such as repairing hoses or hull leaks that would allow a safe return to port. Also a Stop the Bleed Kit for serious injuries.

For all fishermen, single-handed and otherwise, a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) will aid the search and rescue teams in locating a fisherman in distress or a fisherman who has fallen overboard. A PLB may also aid in the recovery of a body. A kill-switch, which could shut off the engine should a fisherman fall overboard, would also be a good addition.

Vessel integrity (seaworthiness) and special additions: All single-handed fishermen should be confident in the integrity of their boat regardless of size. Those with a larger boat can take advantage of a Coast Guard dockside exam to determine if the boat is in compliance with Coast Guard regulations and is seaworthy. Having a professional check the engine, stuffing box or shaft seal, hoses, high water alarms and other items offers a level of confidence in the vessel. Other additions that reduce the risk of drowning include installing a rope bin or rope locker to keep trap rope controlled and away from feet and having a way to reboard the boat by a rope ladder, reboarding ladder or by using scuppers as a foot hold.

A few final comments: Single-handed fishermen with VHF radios are required by the FCC to monitor Channel 16. They may be able to render aid to another crew or get a quick response to their own Mayday call. Single-handed fishermen can undertake safety drill scenarios that reflect their own situations. Setting up situations or conducting periodic drills with others provide opportunities to learn from experience, improve muscle memory, improve situational awareness and evaluate your preparedness.

In summary, health and self-knowledge, training, equipment, and vessel integrity are the four legs of the stool of single-handed fishing. Single-handed fishermen should assess their safety profile based on these four categories before heading for their fishing grounds.