Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Four years in a row, 2007 through 2010, commercial fishing was ranked the most dangerous occupation in the U.S. by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. Anyone familiar with “Deadliest Catch” on the Discovery Channel knows about the dangers commercial fishermen face.

But you don’t have to tell area commercial fishermen that. They know the risks they take each and every time they go out to catch fish, crabs and oysters. They know that when they get into trouble on the area’s waters, their fellow fishermen will respond to help them. Often that response involves family members, neighbors and others who also seek fish, oysters and crabs.

Such a response has been evident since Pamlico Beach crabber Michael Hopkins went missing Monday. A “good Samaritan” found Hopkins’ boat near Hickory Beach northeast of Aurora Monday afternoon. Hopkins was not in the boat, but his dog, live crabs and a life jacket were found in the boat. Immediately after the report of the find was made, searches began. Family members began searching, and the Coast Guard launched a search. Volunteer firefighters and the Sidney Dive Team were among others who searched.

The Coast Guard suspended its search Tuesday evening, no doubt a difficult decision to make. The area has had its share of searches for missing fishermen in recent years. In 2010, searchers found the body of Wilbur Sawyer. In 2011, the Coast Guard ended the search for William Foster, but did rescue Matt Jamison when their boat Harvest Time capsized while they were harvesting oysters.

Because they share dangers and risks, commercial fishermen are a close-knit family. Many of them are family. That’s why after authorities may suspend a search, they keep looking for one of their own. They do it because they know that if they were in trouble, their fellow commercial fishermen would do the same for them.

Commercial fishing is a rough and dangerous life, but crabbers, oystermen and other watermen take those risks willingly to help put food on our tables. While they put that food on our tables, they put their trust in one another.

That’s what makes the family of commercial fishermen special. Just ask the next crabber or oysterman one sees.