Researchers Launch New Lifejacket Van

PRESS RELEASE — According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Lobster fishing deaths accounted for the highest number of occupational fatalities in East Coast fisheries from 2010-2014. Most of these deaths were related to falls overboard (50%) or vessel disasters (30%) and based on fatality report narratives, none of the recovered victims was wearing a lifejacket.

Researchers at the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety: Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing (NEC) have been working with lobstermen in Maine and Massachusetts over the past few years to understand why lifejacket use has been relatively uncommon among fishermen in this fishery sector. Feedback from the community has pointed to a number of barriers to lifejacket use that the NEC and their partners (Fishing Partnership Support Services, Maine Lobstermen’s Association, Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Association, McMillian Offshore Survival Training and the Atlantic Offshore Lobstermen’s Association) plan to address with a “Lifejackets for Lobstermen” campaign.

According to the Project’s Coordinator, Rebecca Weil, the campaign will launch in April of 2019 and will address the prior barriers that lobstermen have experienced when considering lifejackets.

To access easy and affordable options, Weil states that the campaign will feature two lifejacket vans that will drive to ports in Maine and Massachusetts throughout the spring, summer and early fall of 2019. The vans will provide lifejacket options at a one-time discount and will allow fishermen to try them on and get information about various options. In addition to improving access to affordable lifejackets, the campaign seeks to make the process of getting and using lifejackets, a positive, fun experience.

Over the next few months, the research group and its partners hope to make lifejacket use the norm in the lobster fishing community. As Captain Mark Ring, in Gloucester MA said, “They are bringing safety to the fleet, one boat at a time”.

The NEC is funded through the Centers for Disease Control. To find out more about the Lifejackets for Lobstermen campaign, individuals can visit the project Facebook page for updates https://www.facebook.com/LifejacketsforLobstermen or contact project staff via email at LifejacketProject@bassett.org