Children’s book on dangers of fishing sector

Stories of fishing fatalities and the impact they have on loved ones left behind form part of a new children’s book that seeks to raise awareness of the dangers faced by those working on boats.

Too Cold for Sharks features the work of 116 primary school students from all over Ireland — 30 of whom come from fishing families and communities.

Launching the publication, Employment Minister Gerald Nash revealed fishermen are 40 times more likely to be killed doing their job than other workers.

“This book is the work of children themselves, words and stories from their own unique perspective,” he said.

“Their recorded conversations and artwork is a reminder to all that behind every fishing fatality there is a devastated family — children, mothers, aunts, uncles and grandparents left grieving. Fishing is high risk work that takes place in a unique, difficult, and uncompromising environment.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, also praised the initiative and said he fully supports the drive to raise awareness of the dangers in the fishing sector.

“Too many, however, have lost their lives unnecessarily to the sea,” he said.

Between 2002 and 2013, there were 27 incidents in the fishing sector, resulting in the loss of 47 lives.

So far this year there has been one further death.

The main cause of fatalities is vessels taking on water or capsizing and then sinking.The next most common cause is entanglement in nets or other gear and being dragged overboard.

The main types of non-fatal injuries are bruises, cuts, puncture wounds, sprains, fractures and amputations.

CEO of the Health and Safety Authority Martin O’Halloran said when incidents happe it can wipe out multiple members of the same family.

Too Cold for Sharks will be sent to every primary school and library in the country and will be followed by workshops with children in fishing communities.

The project was run in partnership with the 21 full-time Education Centres, sponsored by the Health and Safety Authority and published by Kids’ Own Publishing Partnership.