As an Atlantic commercial fisherman, you know every trip offshore carries risks. You face long hours, heavy gear, unpredictable seas, and constant motion. In 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard continued to publish Marine Casualty Reports detailing serious incidents involving commercial fishing vessels operating along the Atlantic Coast and adjacent waters.
At Hofmann & Schweitzer, our maritime injury lawyers review these accidents to spot patterns, understand what went wrong, honor those who were hurt or killed, and protect other crews and vessels.
Atlantic Commercial Fishing Accidents Reported in the 2025 Cycle
Coast Guard reports published in 2025 include Atlantic commercial fishing incidents that occurred in 2023 and 2024. These investigations provide insight into the types, causes, and outcomes of accidents affecting fishermen. Atlantic commercial fishing accidents included:
Drowning of Crewmember from Commercial Fishing Vessel Gaston’s Legacy
On August 12, 2023, the commercial fishing vessel Gaston’s Legacy was fishing for flounder just south of Nantucket when the captain reported a missing crewmember. The crewmember died in the incident, and their body was recovered by a recreational vessel off the Rhode Island coast on August 17, 2023.
The Coast Guard’s investigation found that the crewmember likely entered the water and died because: (1) the bulwarks were not high enough to eliminate the possibility of a person going overboard, (2) there was a lack of closed-circuit television cameras, and (3) the fisherman was not wearing a personal flotation device.
Fall Overboard from Commercial Fishing Vessel NC3250BW
On August 20, 2024, the commercial fishing vessel NC3250BW was traveling south of Hog Island, North Carolina, when a crew member fell overboard and subsequently lost their life.
Overboard accidents are among the most dangerous events a commercial fisherman can face. They often occur without warning and can be fatal if protective measures aren’t in place or if the crew lacks immediate rescue resources.
2025 and 2026 Atlantic Commercial Fishing Accidents
Recently, at least two recent Atlantic commercial fishing accidents have occurred in the Northeast, including:
Capsized Crab Vessel in Delaware Bay
On September 5, 2025, a crab boat became entangled with the crab trap line when a strong wave came and capsized the boat. Two fishermen were sent overboard and spent two hours in the water clinging to their vessel. One of their cellphones survived the fall into the water, and the fishermen were able to call for help. They survived with minor cuts.
Commercial Fishing Vessel Lost at Sea off the Coast of Cape Ann, Massachusetts
On January 30, 2026, the 72-foot fishing vessel Lily Jean sank off the coast of Gloucester, Massachusetts, with seven crew members on board. The Coast Guard searched approximately 1,000 square miles before calling off the search on January 31, 2026. There is no known cause of the loss yet, but an investigation continues. The crew members’ names will be added to the Gloucester memorial honoring the thousands of fishermen who have been lost at sea.
Why Atlantic Commercial Fishing Accidents Happen
Atlantic commercial fishing accidents follow predictable patterns. The details change—different boats, different ports, different names—but the underlying causes remain consistent. Specifically, serious and fatal maritime accidents happen because of:
- Inadequate safety equipment. This may include personal flotation devices that weren’t worn, man overboard alarms that weren’t installed or maintained, or emergency position-indicating radio beacons that failed.
- Insufficient crew training. Accidents may occur if emergency drills never happened, new crew members who didn't understand vessel-specific hazards, or captains assumed everyone knew what to do without verifying that assumption. When seconds matter, untrained crews can't improvise their way to safety.
- Vessel maintenance neglect. Worn railings, slippery decks without proper non-skid surfaces, and equipment that operators knew needed repair but postponed can all cause serious accidents.
- Fatigue and overwork. Commercial fishing rewards productivity over rest. Long seasons, extended trips, and pressure to maximize catch create exhaustion that slows reaction times and clouds judgment.
Coast Guard marine casualty reports don't exist to assign blame. They exist to prevent subsequent deaths. Investigators examine vessel logs, interview survivors, analyze equipment, and reconstruct events leading to injuries or fatalities. These reports often reveal:
- Whether required safety equipment was present and functional
- If crew members received proper training for their duties
- Whether vessel owners complied with applicable Coast Guard regulations
- What specific actions or conditions contributed to the casualty
- Recommendations for preventing similar incidents
For injured crew members and bereaved families, these findings provide critical information.
The Coast Guard Investigates—But That's Not the End
Coast Guard investigations determine what happened and may recommend regulatory changes or safety improvements. What they don't do is compensate injured crew members or families who lost someone at sea. That requires separate legal action under maritime law.
Vessel owners carry insurance to cover maritime injury claims. Their insurers have lawyers working immediately after accidents to minimize liability and reduce payouts. Injured fishermen and bereaved families need experienced maritime injury lawyers who understand fishing vessel operations, Coast Guard investigation processes, and how to value commercial fishing claims for serious injuries or deaths.
