Commercial crab fishermen are gearing up for the season that begins Nov. 15 from the Russian River south to Morro Bay. Inspectors from the U.S. Coast Guard will be walking the docks of Northern California ports over the next week to check crab fishing vessels’ safety equipment and make sure the crews load crab pots properly. According to the Coast Guard, crab fishing is the most deadly of all commercial fishing jobs, and crab vessels have the highest fatality rate of any West Coast fishery. In previous inspections, the Coast Guard has noted that almost one third of crab vessels’ life rafts and emergency radio beacons were installed incorrectly. Most problems can be easily corrected, but the Coast Guard also may keep boats with serious safety issues from operating. The Coast Guard reminds fishermen, “Successful completion of a dockside exam can also make any future Coast Guard boarding at sea greatly abbreviated.”