Commercial fishing topped the list with 38 deaths -- 112 out of 100,000, according to the National Census of Fatal Occupation Injuries. The "deadliest catch," was the West Coast Dungeness crab fishery, with 17 deaths.
Alaska fishing fatalities have plunged from nearly 40 a year in the early 1980s to an average of 11 these days, the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association said.
Separately, the first Copper River king and red salmon opener is Thursday. Three TV news crews are set to be on the grounds to cover the first catches of the famous fish.
Laine Welch is a Kodiak fisheries journalist. Her e-mail is msfish@alaska.com.
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