NIOSH Announces Availability of $6 Million in Commercial Fishing Safety Research & Training Grants

Press Contact: Stephanie Stevens (202) 245-0641

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), announced the availability of $6 million dollars in grant funding for commercial fishing safety research and training.

The grants, which are supported and administered by NIOSH, will provide funding to qualified individuals in academia, members of non-profit organizations, municipalities, and businesses involved in the fishing and maritime industries. The funding will support research on improving the occupational safety of workers in the commercial fishing industry and critical training for this high-risk occupation.

“NIOSH is excited to partner with the U.S. Coast Guard to administer these grants,” said Jennifer M. Lincoln, PhD, co-director of the NIOSH Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies. “The research and training supported by this funding should further reduce occupational safety risks in the commercial fishing industry.”

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations in the United States, but the hazards fishermen face can vary widely by vessel and fishery. Research and training that addresses what works best in a specific fleet and/or region is critical to ensuring U.S. fishermen are getting the best possible information and training. Despite some recent successes in reducing fatal work-related injuries within the commercial fishing industry, the need for targeted safety research and training remains essential.

“These grant programs will help further education and awareness throughout the commercial fishing fleet as well as provide research into better equipment and operational processes,” said Joseph D. Myers, chief, USCG Fishing Vessel Safety Division. “Enhanced education, equipment and processes go hand-in-hand with the Coast Guard’s longstanding premise that being properly prepared increases survivability and prevents loss of life at sea.”

The Fishing Safety Research and Training Grants will provide up to 75% of an organization’s costs and will range from $250k-$650k per grant over a two-year funding period.

Those interested in applying for a grant can view both funding opportunities on the Grants.gov website. The research and training grant funding opportunities are listed as RFA-OH-19-004 and RFA-OH-19-005, respectively. The deadline to submit an application for both grants is February 21, 2019.

The Fishing Safety Research Grant Program was established by The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-281), as amended by the Howard Coble Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2014 (P.L. 113-281). The Program was created to provide funding to advance fishing safety research and fishermen training. In order to support and administer the grant program, the Coast Guard and NIOSH signed a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2018.

For more than two decades NIOSH has conducted studies of fishing safety to reduce the incidence of injuries and fatalities among the nation’s fishermen. NIOSH accomplishes safety and health research in maritime industries through the Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies, which is a virtual center that serves as a hub for intramural and extramural researchers. Visit the NIOSH website to learn more about NIOSH’s work in commercial fishing safety and health.

NIOSH is the federal institute that conducts research and makes recommendations for preventing work-related injuries and illnesses. For more information about NIOSH, visit www.cdc.gov/niosh/.