Abstract

Fishing is an arduous occupation that provides a livelihood for many independent people in the Caribbean which provides healthy locally sourced food for many island communities. This study reports on occupational hazards and the safety aspects of artisanal fishers in the US Virgin Islands and tracks the dive profile of a representative diver. Safety awareness, adequate training, safe vessels, adequate equipment and an established system for search and rescue are also essential to control the risks. Increased safety for fishermen in small fishing vessels would benefit by having more reliable accident reporting systems in place with better records. This additional information would help identify the causes of the accident and reduce the number of accidents and deaths by introducing preventive measures.