The Coast Guard reported a decrease in the number of lives lost at sea midway through a six month program focused on safety for commercial fishing vessels, AP reported. This season, seven lives have been lost throughout the East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Great Lakes regions, as compared to 22 fatalities during the same period last year, and 13 in 1998. Inspectors encourage fishermen to correct hazardous conditions through voluntary dockside exams, but have no way to compel mandatory compliance.

On the high seas, though, it?s a different story. The Coast Guard attributes this decrease partly to its Operation Safe Catch in which inspectors board high-risk vessels at sea to find out whether proper safety equipment is onboard, and if crewmembers know how to use it. Though the number of fatalities is down, the number of boats lost at sea is about the same?17 this winter as compared to 19 last winter?and 15 in 1998. Of about 82,000 commercial fishing vessels within the Atlantic Area Command, the Coast Guard has so far identified 592 as high-risk vessels. Either they were in poor condition with inadequate safety equipment, had a history of repeated calls for rescue or engaged, in higher-risk activities such as one-person operations far from shore. Operation Safe Catch will run until May 31. The Coast Guard then will analyze the operation to decide whether to repeat it.