Jan. 09, 2007

In the November issue of Commercial Fisheries News, we discussed the events leading up to and resulting in the drowning from entanglement in trap rope of James Tippett aboard the Virginia Ann. This time, we’ll address the importance of having knives readily available to cut free from an entanglement.

Through our study team’s discussions with lobstermen during the survey of entanglement risks in 1999 and 2000, we collected many suggestions about ways to recover from entanglement in trap rope.

These ideas included taping a sharp knife upside down on oilskins or suspenders, placing a knife inside the boot or alongside the calf, and mounting knives under the rail and on the transom.

Eric deDoes, president of Plante’s Lobster Escape Vents Inc. in Somerville, ME, called CFN after seeing the November article to say he has developed a produced a plastic sheath for the typical red-handled knife used by fishermen.

This sheath is designed to hold the knife tightly so that it can be mounted upside down on the oilskin straps or suspenders. This upside-down position is recommended because it allows the fisherman who is caught in rope to pull the knife down out of the sheath safely and not up near the face.

The hand motion that removes the knife from the sheath in a downward stroke also starts the knife moving in the direction toward the rope. The upside-down knife can be removed easily by either right or left hand.

Fishermen can place the readily available red-handled knife or one of the similar size in the molded plastic PLANTE SHEATH.

The modified handle on this knife makes it easier to grip in a an emergency situation. This knife, or any standard re-handled knife, fits snugly in the specially molded sheath that snaps onto oilskin suspenders for easy access.

Author: Commercial Fisheries News