The older EPIRBs have been deemed unreliable in emergencies, according to the Coast Guard. Data shows that just one alert out of every 50 with the 121.5 MHz beacon is a genuine distress situation.

The 406 MHz beacons require boaters to enter personal and contact information into a registration database. Therefore, when a beacon signal is received from that type of EPIRB, search and rescue personnel can retrieve information from that database, including identifying characteristics about the vessel that is in distress, according to the Coast Guard.

The changes probably affect the operators of pleasure boats far more than commercial fishing vessels, according to Erik Orman, the co-owner of Tempest Fisheries Ltd. in New Bedford. Orman, who co-owns five fishing boats, said he and his partner already have the latest emergency equipment on board.

Although he was not familiar with the 406 MHz terminology, he said anything required by the Coast Guard is most likely already on board his boats.

“The fishing industry has always been pretty proactive as far as safety equipment goes,” Orman said.