BROWNSVILLE, Texas (RFD News) — As shrimping season gets underway, a long-running safety training program in South Texas is helping Gulf shrimpers prepare for emergencies on the water.
The program has been offered since 1984 and comes as commercial fishing and shrimping remain among the world’s most dangerous occupations.
Michael Lawson with the Alaskan Marine Safety Education Association said the training prepares crews for emergencies they may face while at sea.
“If you have an emergency on your boat, our training tries to prepare people for those emergencies. Emergencies like flooding, fires on board, you know, if you have to get off the boat, we teach you, try to teach you the proper ways to disembark the vessel.”
While the dangers faced on shrimp boats are unique, safety training remains important across agriculture.
South Texas citrus producer Fred Karle said citrus operations also require regular training for drivers and employees who handle agricultural chemicals.
“Yes, we definitely do. We have training for our drivers, and we have to have chemical training for the operators that handle chemicals. We’re regulated, we’re licensed by the state, by the Texas Department of Agriculture, and we’re licensed as to what chemicals we can use.”
While the dangers faced in citrus differ from those in shrimping, both industries rely on training to help keep workers safe.
Shrimping season runs from mid-July through late November.
