Commercial Fishing Safety

Commercial fishing is a vital industry that provides food for people in the U.S. and around the world. In Oregon and Washington, there are 10,364 commercial fishing vessels with $835,670 dollars in sales per year. Commercial fishing can be physically demanding, involving long hours, harsh weather, and changing work environments. All of these factors can create safety risks for fishermen. PNASH collaborates with Oregon State University to engage commercial fishermen to reduce the risk of injury and keep them fishing.
Our current project is the Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program (FLIPP) for Lifejackets Mobile Program. See below to view our other research and resources to improve safety in commercial fishing.
Commercial Fishermen’s First-Aid Kit
Every vessel must have a first-aid kit, and every fisherman should know what should go into a kit that will really help in situations they might find themselves in at sea. These resources were developed by the Fishermen Led Injury Prevention Program (FLIPP) led by Oregon State University.
- The Commercial Fishermen’s Guide to Building First-Aid Kits
- What's in a Commercial Fishermen's First-Aid Kit?
- First-Aid Kit Flash Cards
Commercial Fishing Crew Agreements
Commercial fishermen think a good crew agreement can help reduce the risk of injuries and establish a positive relationship among the crew. Understand what goes into a good crew agreement and use the template (either paper version or an online version) to help you get this in place with your crews. These resources were developed by the Fishermen Lead Injury Prevention Program (FLIPP) led by Oregon State University.
- Top Ten Items for An Effective Crew Agreement
- Printable Version of a Crew Agreement
- Online Version of a Crew Agreement
Regional and National Resources
PNASH Resources
Scene Assessment
This video teaches how to safely assess the scene when someone is hurt on a fishing vessel and the first steps to take.
Calling The Coastguard
This video teaches the proper protocol for calling the coast guard from fishing vessel.
Report: PFDs for Crab Fishing
This is a report evaluating safety initiatives and safety training programs that informs attitudes around PFD.
PNASH Research
Improving Commercial Fishing Safety in Norton Sound: Knowledge from Alaska Native Salmon Set Gillnetters
PNASH Pilot Project 2021-2022 | Jerry Dzugan and Leann Fay
Learn moreSafety Surveillance for Pacific Northwest Commercial Fishing: Risk Information System for Commercial (RISC) Fishing
NIOSH Funding Period 2016-2022 | Laurel Kincl, PhD, MS
Learn moreFishing Industry Filipino Migrant and Immigrant Work in the Subarctic
PNASH Pilot Project 2013-2015 | Gabriel Garcia, PhD, MA, MPH
Learn more


