Improving safety training for commercial fishermen
Official title: Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety TrainingProject Grants (T03)
Funded at Alaska Marine Safety Education Assn · NIH-10553503 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is all about making commercial fishing safer for fishermen by training new instructors and fishermen in important safety skills, giving out life jackets, and holding workshops on how to stay safe on the water.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Alaska Marine Safety Education Assn NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sitka, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $566,745 |
| NIH project number | 2T03OH011921-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10553503 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this program are commercial fishermen and instructors involved in fishing safety training in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast U.S.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not involved in commercial fishing or do not work in related maritime occupations may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project aims to enhance safety for commercial fishermen, who face significant risks in their occupation. It involves training new instructors and fishermen in essential safety courses across the Gulf of Mexico and Southeast U.S., including North Carolina. The initiative includes distributing personal flotation devices (PFDs) and conducting workshops to teach safety practices, navigation, and emergency response. By pairing experienced instructors with newcomers, the program fosters a collaborative learning environment to improve safety knowledge and skills.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce work-related injuries and fatalities among commercial fishermen.
How similar studies have gone: Previous initiatives in occupational safety training have shown success in reducing injuries in high-risk professions, indicating a promising outlook for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Alaska Marine Safety Education Assn
Sitka, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dzugan, Jerry — Alaska Marine Safety Education Assn
- Study coordinator: Dzugan, Jerry
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Training for commercial fishermen to improve safety at sea
This study is all about helping commercial fishermen stay safe on the job by providing hands-on training for emergencies like falling overboard or dealing with fires, especially in rural Alaska where it's harder to get this kind of help.
-
Improving safety training for Alaska salmon gillnet fishermen
This study is all about making fishing safer for salmon gillnetters, especially for Alaska Native communities who often face dangers while fishing, and it will involve working with these communities to create helpful training and safety tools that blend their traditional knowledge with new techniques.
-
Improving safety training for commercial fishermen on the West Coast
This study is all about making fishing safer for commercial fishermen in California, Oregon, and Washington by offering training and new safety gear, like life jackets, to help prevent injuries and keep everyone safe on the water.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.