Our View: Above All, Safety On The Water

It sometimes takes a tragedy to remind us of a fundamental truth about life on Cape Cod: the ocean is dangerous.

 Perhaps someday we’ll know what caused the dragger Seahorse to sink in Cape Cod Bay last week with the loss of two souls. Over the centuries, Lower Cape history is riddled with maritime tragedies, and even today’s modern safety equipment and navigational technology provides no guarantee of a mariner’s safe return to port. It takes serious seamanship to be on the water safely — and even then, sometimes fate’s against you.

 When you tuck into that clam roll, remember that a fisherman went to sea for that harvest. Commercial fishing remains among the nation’s most deadly occupations, second only to logging. Whether fishermen are on the high seas or in a skiff on the clam flats, they’re at the mercy of unpredictable weather, technical failures or any of a number of perils.

 Whether you’re a seasoned commercial mariner or an occasional pleasure boater or paddler, file a float plan before every trip. It’s as simple as making sure a reliable loved one knows where you’ll be boating and when you’re expected to return, so they can get help if you’re overdue. Make sure your safety equipment is in good order, and wear a life jacket whenever possible. Turn to the Coast Guard Auxiliary or the Cape Cod Sail and Power Squadron to learn boating safety or to brush up on your skills.

 As it always has, the ocean provides; it offers a bounty of food and endless opportunities for recreation. But as any local will tell you, it demands respect.