Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, according to a press release from the U.S. Coast Guard’s 5th District and Coast Guard Sector Virginia.

To mitigate the danger, Coast Guard personnel enforce federal fishing vessel safety regulations and stress the importance of exams for the approximately 5,800 commercial fishing vessels that are located throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Among the measures that commercial vehicles should take is to have on board a properly registered emergency position-indicating radio beacon, said the release. When activated, an EPIRB sends the vessel’s location to the Coast Guard, notifies the agency that the vessel is in distress, and triggers the beginning of rescue efforts.

EPIRBs are required on all commercial fishing vessels operating more than three nautical miles from the coast of the United States, said the release. The Coast Guard 5th District commercial fishing vessel examiners and boarding officer...