COMMERCIAL fishermen will be required to make significant changes to their boats ahead of new safety regulations.

Three new codes have been developed with the help of the Fishing Industry Safety group, which includes Fishing Federations, Seafish, the Shipbuilders and Shiprepairers Association and the Fishermen’s Mission.

The new requirements are for small fishing vessels less than 15m, fishing vessels of 15m to less than 24m and fishing vessels of 24m and over.

The codes have been designed to improve safety through the introduction of new safety requirements, adopting technological developments and addressing recommendations from the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Under the new codes, fishermen will be required to hold monthly emergency drills, keep life rafts on specific vessels, fit radar reflectors and bilge alarms, as well as carbon monoxide monitors, EPIRBs and personal locator beacons with built-in GPS.

David Fenner from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) said: “We have worked hard with all those connected with the fishing industry on these codes. This is all about reducing the risk of serious accidents and deaths. Even one death is one too many.

“The new requirements for life rafts, EPIRBs and Personal Locator Beacons are being phased in so if your vessel is already registered as a fishing vessel, you will have until October 23, 2019 to comply. This will allow you to apply for funding from the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund to claim back up to 60 per cent of the cost.

“However, vessels registering as fishing vessels for the first time, or re-registering after an absence of six months or more, on or after October 23 this year, must comply with all the requirements of the code immediately.”