The Latest ‘Deadliest Catch’ Tragedy Reminds Us Why It’s Still the Most Dangerous Job at Sea

Any Deadliest Catch viewer knows that working on a fishing boat in Alaska is no walk in the park. Not only do fishermen have to haul in heavy traps full of crabs from the raging sea, but they also have to deal with massive maelstroms, freezing winds, and a shaky boat that could lead to being thrown overboard into the waters that hold your haul. These individuals make a living on the high seas, but also are waging a battle with the elements, and sometimes don’t win. Last month, Deadliest Catch fans received a brutal reminder of how deadly the conditions on-screen really are when crew member, Jacob Riley Veeser, was found dead.

According to authorities, Veeser’s body was found in Iliuliuk Harbor in Alaska — nearly 24 hours after his crewmates had reported him missing. Veeser was a crew member on the F/V Lady Alaska, which was captained by Peter Liske in Season 1 and Scott Campbell Jr. in Seasons 16 and 17 before he retired from the show. What’s most sobering about Veeser’s death, other than how it highlights the dangers of his profession, are the conditions it took place in.

‘Deadliest Catch’ Filmed in the Same Icy Conditions That Took Jacob Veeser’s Life

Deadliest Catch has never shied away from showcasing the intense weather that fishermen have to deal with, including showing the dangers of hurricane season. But some of the most intense weather comes from the Arctic storms. Arctic storms mix the high-intensity winds of a hurricane with subzero weather, resulting in conditions that can shake even the strongest fisherman to their core. Deadlest Catch Season 10 was one of the first examples of this, with its finale showing just how deadly these storms can be. Producer Ben Staley summed it up best during an Entertainment Weekly interview: “I’ve seen a lot of fishermen fall in the water. I’ve seen cameramen fall in the water and have to go to the hospital. And then here we are in this situation where the boat is getting slammed against the dock, and it’s pulling out, and it’s stretching lines, and you had literally two or three seconds where the boat was close enough to the dock where you could actually get on it. If you missed, or you slipped, you would fall between the dock and the boat, and you would be crushed.”

Staley’s words showcase just how lucky some of the fishermen have been. One wrong step, and you could either plummet into the icy ocean or be crushed by the very boat where you make your livelihood. But it also shows that what happened to Veeser was utterly horrifying: to be pulled into water that’s no doubt icy cold, and at a time when ice can grow faster than you expect (according to Captain Keith Colburn), that’s a harsh environment that provides little to no chance of survival. Despite fans questioning the authenticity of Deadliest Catch, there’s nothing fake about the dangers its fishermen are facing.

‘Deadliest Catch’ Has Never Shied Away From Danger

In addition to showing the dangers that could befall crab fishermen, Deadliest Catch has also displayed the gravity of some injuries. Season 18 saw crew member Francis Katungin getting crushed in between a crab pot and a railing while serving on the F/V Patricia Lee, which shattered most of his bones and led to him being carried off by the Coast Guard. A similar incident would happen to Patricia Lee crewman Todd Kochutin, but it cost him his life. Another Deadliest Catch alum recently passed away, with Tom Brossard suffering from a heart attack. Even Captain Keith Colburn has had to deal with medical issues, as he encountered heart issues while filming an episode.

What happened to Veeser and these other fishermen should also make fans reconsider the accusations they fling about Deadliest Catch’s authenticity. The show’s producers have been transparent about some of the edits, but there’s no faking some of the things these fishermen went through – especially literally freezing storms or heart attacks. Jacob Veeser’s death is sobering because it’s a reminder that, while we’re being entertained, these men are literally fighting for their lives…and some of them are lost.