NIOSH & U.S. Coast Guard Announce 2020 Commercial Fishing Safety Research & Training Grants

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 extramural grant funding for commercial fishing safety research and training for 2020.

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 safety of workers in the commercial fishing industry and critical training for this high-risk occupation. In 2019, the Commercial Fishing Safety and Training Grant Program awarded $5.25 million in funding to nine extramural research and training projects.

Commercial fishing remains 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. The Fishing Safety Research and Training Grants will provide up to 50% of an organization’s costs and will range from $150k-$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-20-002 and RFA-OH-20-003, respectively. The deadline to apply for both grants is January 21, 2020.  For additional information, you can reach out to the NIOSH Office of Extramural Programs contacts listed in these announcements.

About the Commercial Fishing Occupational Safety Research and Training Grant Program

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 provide targeted, regionally appropriate training for the nation’s commercial fishermen. NIOSH works in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard to administer the program.

About the NIOSH Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies

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.

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

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