Abstract
This study evaluates the occupational injury trends and the safety and health practices in the commercial fishing industry of selected countries and regions of the North. Data on occupational injuries and fatalities occurring in the fishing industry of different countries were analyzed and compared. International injury data show the commercial fishing industry as one of the most dangerous jobs worldwide. Fishing fatality rates are higher than the respective national occupational fatality rates, and in many countries are higher than the world average for fishing (80/100,000/year). The highest rates were observed in Denmark, the U.S.A. and UK. Drowning and hypothermia are the leading causes of death in many countries. Eighty percent of vessel-related fatalities were associated with smaller vessels under 80ft/24m due to two leading causes, capsizings and founderings. International examples demonstrate that local, industry-oriented safety strategies, safety training for fishermen, interagency collaboration -among other preventive initiatives -contributed to declining injury trends, (e.g. in Norway (declined by 41 %) and in Alaska the fatality rate declined by 42 percent (200 /100,000 /year 1991-1992 compared to 116/100,000/year from 1991-1998) Study confirmed similar causes and circumstances responsible for fishermen's occupational traumatic injuries worldwide, though many. limitations exist for research due to differences in country guidelines, registration, surveillance standards, etc. Increased international cooperation and data exchange should be continued with the purpose of closing the gap between injury databases and making a more accurate public health diagnosis and cross-country monitoring of the problem in future research.