Journal of Agromedicine

ISSN: (Print) (Online) Journal homepage: https://www.tandfonline.com/loi/wagr20

From Bad to Worse: The Impact of COVID-19 on

Commercial Fisheries Workers

Julie Sorensen, Jessica Echard & Rebecca Weil

To cite this article: Julie Sorensen, Jessica Echard & Rebecca Weil (2020) From Bad to Worse:
The Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Fisheries Workers, Journal of Agromedicine, 25:4,
388-391, DOI: 10.1080/1059924X.2020.1815617

To link to this article: https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2020.1815617

Published online: 12 Sep 2020.

Submit your article to this journal

Article views: 1330

View related articles

View Crossmark data

Citing articles: 8 View citing articles

Full Terms & Conditions of access and use can be found at

https://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?journalCode=wagr20
JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE
2020, VOL. 25, NO. 4, 388–391
https://doi.org/10.1080/1059924X.2020.1815617

From Bad to Worse: The Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Fisheries Workers

a
Julie Sorensen , Jessica Echarda, and Rebecca Weila
a
Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety, Bassett Healthcare Network, Cooperstown, New York, USA

ABSTRACT KEYWORDS
This commentary provides an overview of the impact of COVID-19 on the commercial fishing Coronavirus; COVID-19;
industry. The information highlighted in the article was gathered from fishermen, fishing industry commercial fishing; safety;
experts, health and safety advisors, and advocates. From these first-hand accounts, we provide the health; fishermen
immediate and expansive impacts of COVID-19 on fishermen’s health and wellbeing. In particular,
we discuss the economic impact of COVID-19 market disruptions, as well as the very real, logistical
challenges of protecting workers on fishing vessels. We also provide examples of how these
combined issues have led to increased occupational risk in one of the nation’s most deadly
industries. Lastly, we identify a number of recommendations for providing much-needed support
for commercial fishermen in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction been documented. Specific segments of the com­

mercial fishing communities have a higher preva­
As highlighted in the U.S. Department of Health
lence of hearing loss, musculoskeletal disorders,
and Human services “Healthy People 2020” objec­
and sleep apnea risk factors.4 Secondary impacts
tives, attention to the connections between social
of these health problems have included an addic­
determinants and individual health, as well as
tion to pain medications and overdose deaths. In
responsiveness to these factors, is essential for
2014, Fishing Partnership Support Services, a non-
ensuring the health of our population now and
profit health organization servicing the Northeast
in future generations.1 In light of COVID-19 and
fishing community, conducted focus groups with
a newly acknowledged reality, there is considerable
commercial fishers.5 Participants talked of daily
cause for concern regarding the impact of the
struggles to find reliable crews and to address
COVID-19 pandemic on commercial fisheries
long-standing post-traumatic stress disorder
workers. Even before COVID-19 wreaked havoc
symptoms, such as intrusive memories, anger,
with the global economy and ravaged local health­
and irritability. As these studies indicate, work
care systems, U.S. commercial fisheries workers
exposures and conditions were less than perfect
had reported higher rates of fatalities, injuries,
for commercial fisheries workers well before
and comorbidities as compared to other industry
COVID-19.
groups. From 2000 to 2017, commercial fishermen
experienced a fatality rate of 114 deaths per
100,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers, com­ The economic impact of COVID-19 on
pared with an average of 4 deaths per 100,000 FTE national fisheries
workers among all U.S. workers.2 For several spe­ Following the rapid spread of COVID-19 in the
cific fisheries sectors, the rates are even higher. United States, which coincidentally made an initial
From 2005 to 2014, the fatality rate for the impact on both the east and west coasts, the eco­
Northeast Multi-Species Groundfish Trawl was nomic impact has been swift and severe. In
300 per 100,000 FTEs.3 Massachusetts, prior to the COVID-19 epidemic,
In addition to the higher risk of fatality, other 68% of seafood purchases were made directly to
health concerns of commercial fishermen have restaurants.6 As restaurants closed, a primary

CONTACT Julie Sorensen Julie.sorensen@bassett.org Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety, Bassett Healthcare Network,
Cooperstown, New York 13326, USA
© 2020 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

distribution channel for seafood closed with them.
Another significant percentage of seafood sales has
traditionally involved shipping product to overseas
markets. However, with the grounding of interna­
tional flights, getting produce to markets created
additional hardships.6 In a recent article from
National Fishermen, the nation’s fisheries reported
a sales decline as high as 95%. Unlike other agri­
cultural sectors that have seen a significant
increase in grocery store sales as a result of restau­
rant closures, stores have cut back on seafood
purchases.7
A Rutgers University survey conducted by Sarah
Swift and Victoria Ramenzoni with 260 commer­
cial fishermen from Maine to North Carolina indi­
cates fishermen have attempted to switch to direct
consumer marketing to address market closures.
While this may seem like a good option, fishermen
state that direct marketing has led to longer work
days. Some reported working 16–18-hour days
during the pandemic to market their fish directly
to the public (Personal communication with
author R. Weil from Sarah Swift and Victoria
Ramenzoni, Rutgers Extension, June 29, 2020).
According to Beth Casoni, the Executive Director
of the Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association,
additional issues with direct sales to consumers
include harbor restrictions, the fear of contracting
COVID-19 from the public, and the difficulties of
bringing a live product to the market. As Casoni
points out, lobsters “cannot be stored at the dock
or in a refrigerator.” (Email communication with
author R. Weil from Beth Casoni, Executive
Director of the Massachusett’s Lobstermen’s
Association, June 24, 2020). Mark Ring,
a Massachusetts lobstermen adds, “Younger guys
with mortgages on their boats are trying to sell
their product with big worries about depressed
prices for the upcoming season. The situation is
causing a lot of stress.” (Phone communication
with author R. Weil from Mark Ring. Lobster
Fisherman. June 23, 2020)
Several of the Rutgers survey respondents also
discussed taking fewer crew to reduce costs, while
others found it hard to find and hire crew, given
the provision of unemployment benefits during
the epidemic. Roughly 45% stated they had experi­
enced a greater than 20% decline in income, and
around 1–2% were fishing more frequently to try
JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE 389
to make up for the income gap.8 According to
Jerry Dzugan, Executive Director of Alaska
Marine Safety Education Association (AMSEA),
some fishing vessel operators have decided to fish
with family members due to concerns about bring­
ing COVID-19 onboard (Personal email commu­
nication with author R. Weil from Jerry Dzugan,
Executive Director of AMSEA, June 29, 2020).
A survey conducted with 779 fishermen in
Alaska found that 26% of fishermen were planning
to work with fewer crew, less time, and fewer
resources.8,9
The suspension of research surveys and port-
side sampling, typically conducted by the
National Marine Fisheries Service, is another
COVID-19 impact that threatens the financial
viability of commercial fisheries. With
a suspension of surveys, researchers have less
data to develop fishing stock assessments. Doug
Christel, Fishery Policy Analyst at the National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), states this can lead to greater uncer­
tainty in future estimates of fish stocks, which
can lead to lower fishing quotas. Lower quotas
in turn can result in reductions in fishing reven­
ues (Personal email communication with author
R. Weil from Doug Christel, Fishery Policy
Analyst at the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, June 26, 2020).
Although fishermen have attempted to participate
in stimulus opportunities that have been pre­
sented through the CARES Act, such as the
Paycheck Protection Program and unemploy­
ment, these safety nets have often not proven
effective for small-scale, owner-operated busi­
nesses, as indicated by Ben Martens, Executive
Director, Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association.
Given these challenges, it is more important for
fishermen to be involved in fisheries management
discussions. For example, regulators need to be
aware of how COVID-19 has limited fishermen’s
ability to obtain fishery permits, vessel monitoring
systems, and trap tags due to government office
closures. However, there are challenges to address
for fishermen to be appropriately involved. There
have been reports from fishermen that online
meeting platforms have compromised their ability
to effectively communicate their concerns to fish­
eries management.
390 J. SORENSEN ET AL.
The direct impact of COVID-19 on commercial
fishermen’s safety and health
In addition to economic challenges, reducing the
spread of COVID-19 on commercial fishing ves­
sels presents its own unique challenges. Work
environments, even onboard larger commercial
fishing vessels, provide little space for workers,
with sleeping bunks and communal eating areas
typically laid out in close quarters. Fishermen are
also often required to accommodate fisheries
observers (scientists who gather data for monitor­
ing fisheries). These workers live in close quarters
with fishermen and travel from vessel to vessel,
which can further elevate potential COVID-19
exposures.
Given economic challenges, the potential for
cutting corners on safety is even more of
a concern. Ted Harrington, Fishing Vessel Safety
Coordinator for the First U.S. Coast Guard
District, states “We did note a sharp rise in the
number of vessels that had safety deficiencies
when they were boarded. Under ‘normal’ condi­
tions about 10% of vessels that are boarded show
a violation. Since the [COVID-19] crisis that num­
ber has risen to almost 30%.” Harrington adds that
the number of vessel terminations (sent back to
port) for especially unsafe conditions has also
sharply risen since the pandemic began (Personal
email communication with author R. Weil from
Ted Harrington, Fishing Vessel Safety Coordinator
for the First U.S. Coast Guard District, June 24,
2020).
In light of increased hazards, it is alarming to
note the simultaneous decreased access to safety
trainings. AMSEA’s Jerry Dzugan reports that
AMSEA and its partners around the United
States have cancelled more than 58 workshops
due to the need for social distancing, face cover­
ings, and handwashing, which make hands-on
safety trainings virtually impossible. This translates
to roughly 1000 fishermen who will miss the
opportunity for safety training before the start of
the fishing season.
A path forward
To address these concerns, fishermen will need
tailored, practical COVID-19 prevention strategies
for the worksite. Ann Jarris, CEO of Discovery
Health MD points out that COVID-19 recommen­
dations need to consider the type of personal pro­
tective equipment, such as respiratory protection,
that is needed onboard a vessel. Guidance also
needs to be provided on how to test or quarantine
in effective ways, what to do if a fishermen
becomes sick at sea and how can this information
be most successfully disseminated to the fishing
community given myriad vessel sizes and vessel
configurations (Personal email communication
with author R. Weil from Ann Jarris, CEO of
Discovery Health MD, June 25, 2020).
Meanwhile, policy-makers need to react quickly
by waiving regulatory requirements that are not
essential. For example, National Marine Fisheries
Service (NMFS) recently waived requirements to
carry observers from March 20 to July 1, and they
are now collecting fisheries data through online
surveys, which will allow them to create some
estimates of revenue impacts. NMFS has also mod­
ified decision-making processes in response to the
pandemic to preserve fishermen’s abilities to pro­
vide input on fisheries decisions.
In addition, to these efforts, policy-makers and
consumers need to find ways to support and
encourage consumer demand for domestic fish­
eries products. This will involve enhancing our
domestic capacity to process fish and identifying
ways to facilitate direct sales to consumers in ways
that do not extend a fisherman’s already lengthy
workday. Relief programs, such as the Paycheck
Protection Program, also need to be more flexible
and responsive to the unique aspects of the com­
mercial fishing industry.
Lastly, resources for dealing with the mounting
stressors brought on by COVID-19 need to be made
available and quickly. As has been demonstrated
time and again, mental stressors have the potential
to contribute to domestic violence and substance
abuse, which affects not only fisheries workers but
also their families, according to Discovery Health
MD CEO, Ann Jarris. In light of this, resources
should be made available to spouses and children,
as well as to fisheries workers.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Funding
This work was supported by the National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health [5 U54OH007542-20-00].
ORCID
Julie Sorensen http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8787-3837
References
1. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Social
determinants of health. HealthyPeople.gov. 2020. Retrieved
from https://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topics-
objectives/topic/social-determinants-of-health#one.
2. BLS. Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (2000
Forward), All United States, Fishing. Washington, DC:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics;
2019. https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshcfoi1.htm.
3. Mason K, Case S, Kloczko D, Lucas D, Syron L,
Teske T. Commercial Fishing Fatality Summary: East
Coast Region. (DHHS/NIOSH Publication No.
2017–173). Cincinnati, OH: US Department of Health
and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and
JOURNAL OF AGROMEDICINE 391
Prevention, NIOSH; 2017. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/
docs/2017-173/default.html.
4. Eckert C, Baker T, Cherry D. Chronic health risks in
commercial fishermen: A cross-sectional analysis from
a small rural fishing village in Alaska. J Agromedicine.
2018;23(2):176–185. doi:10.1080/1059924X.2018.1425172.
5. Fishing Partnership Support Services. Gloucester, MA:
Focus Groups; 2014.
6. Tiernan E. 2020. Fishermen cast for new customers
amid coronavirus pandemic. Boston Herald. https://
www.bostonherald.com/2020/05/10/fishermen-cast-for
-new-customers-amid-pandemic/.
7. Buoy M. Reps ask for more federal aid. National
Fisherman. 2020. https://www.nationalfisherman.com/
national-international/reps-ask-for-more-federal-aid?
fbclid=IwAR2INNERfW1CjTAdM-D9XN4WxecK0aS7_
tZF0PQzEPsiHjGRGKZpGeV3DmE..
8. SalmonState 2020 Fishermen Survey. 2020. Access date:
23rd June 2020. https://secureservercdn.net/104.238.71.
109/2h2.054.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/
2020/05/Alaska-Fishermen-Survey-2020.pdf.
9. Martens B. Federal COVID Response a Missed
Opportunity to Help Maine Fishermen [Blog Post].
2020 June 27. https://www.mainecoastfishermen.org/
post/missed_opportunity.