Senators Sullivan, Markey Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Physical and Behavioral Health in Commercial Fishing Industry
Legislation would expand life-saving safety training and research grant opportunities for the commercial fishing industry
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senators Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced the Fishing Industry Safety, Health, and Wellness Improvement (FISH Wellness) Act, bipartisan legislation that would build upon the success of theCommercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research & Training Program to better address the range of occupational safety and health risks facing fishermen in this highly strenuous and dangerous industry, including worker fatigue and substance use disorder. This legislation would also increase the authorized funding for the program and make these research and training grants more accessible on every coast by eliminating the match requirement.
“Fishermen contend with extreme weather, long distances and periods away from shore and family, and often strenuous working conditions—factors that contribute to the industry being consistently ranked among the most dangerous in the country,” said Sen. Sullivan. “I’m glad to introduce the FISH Wellness Act with Senator Markey, which would expand job safety training opportunities to support our fishermen as they sustainably harvest a world-class renewable resource and strengthen our coastal economies.”
“Every day, our fishermen are faced with demanding and dangerous working conditions that take both a physical and mental toll, all while they work to bring food to the tables of families across the country,” said Sen. Markey. “The FISH Wellness Actwill provide much needed funding to ensure that fishermen are getting the information and resources they need to stay safe and healthy on the job.”
A copy of the?FISH Wellness Act?can be found?HERE.
Cosponsors in the Senate include Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.).
Senators Markey, Sullivan, Shaheen, Collins, Murkowski, Angus King (I-Maine), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) introduced the Funding Instruction for Safety Health, and Security Avoids Fishing Emergencies (FISH SAFE) Act in 2019 and secured its inclusion in the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The legislation reauthorized the program and enacted a 75 percent federal cost share for fishing safety grants, an increase from the previous maximum of a 50 percent federal share.
The FISH Wellness Act is endorsed by the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, Alaska Marine Conservation Council, Alaska Longline Fishermen's Association, Fishing Partnership Support Services, Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen's Alliance, Gloucester Fishermen's Wives Association, Massachusetts Fishermen Partnership, Massachusetts Seafood Collaborative, New England Young Fishermen's Alliance, Fishing Communities Coalition, and the Maine Coast Fishermen's Association.
“Fishermen's health and wellness are critical but often overlooked aspects of functional and vibrant coastal communities,” said Theresa Peterson, policy director at the Alaska Marine Conservation Council’s Fisheries. “We applaud an expansion of the nation’s most successful fishermen's safety programs and bringing their funding opportunities in line with other CDC-funded health and safety grants.”
“Suicides and drug overdoses have become an increasingly large share of onboard fatalities in the commercial fishing industry. An updated program will better protect these critical domestic workers,” said Leann Cyr, Ph.D., executive director of the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association. “Currently, this is the only NIOSH program with a cost-share requirement. A waiver of the 25 percent match requirement will ensure that access to safety training in fishing communities will not be blocked by financial barriers.”
“The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association worked to save fishermen’s lives by empowering them with hands-on, data-informed training programs thanks to the funding it receives from this essential program,” said Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. “Expanding this program to help fishermen understand and mitigate a wider range of professional health and safety risks will not only continue to save lives but also improve them. We thank Senators Markey, Sullivan, and Murkowski for their continued leadership supporting their coastal community constituents by?introducing this bill.”
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