Fishing Safety

Commercial Fishing Safety

Illustration of orange fishing boat

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.

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.

Regional and National Resources

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National

NIOSH
Washington Sea Grant logo

Washington

Sea Grant
Oregon Sea Grant logo

Oregon

Sea Grant
Oregon State University logo with orange background, beaver, sun, tree, book, and mountains with 1868 overlaid.

Oregon

OSU

PNASH Resources

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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.

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Calling The Coastguard

This video teaches the proper protocol for calling the coast guard from fishing vessel.

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Report: PFDs for Crab Fishing

This is a report evaluating safety initiatives and safety training programs that informs attitudes around PFD.

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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

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Safety Surveillance for Pacific Northwest Commercial Fishing: Risk Information System for Commercial (RISC) Fishing

NIOSH Funding Period 2016-2022 | Laurel Kincl, PhD, MS

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Fishing Industry Filipino Migrant and Immigrant Work in the Subarctic

PNASH Pilot Project 2013-2015 | Gabriel Garcia, PhD, MA, MPH

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