Commercial fishermen need more support for substance abuse and fatigue, lawmakers say

PORTLAND, Maine — A federal program that protects the health and well-being of commercial fishermen should be expanded to include substance abuse and worker fatigue, a group of lawmakers from New England and Alaska said.

Lawmakers want to expand a federal occupational safety program for commercial fishing that funds research and training. The program aims to help the country's fishermen with the often dangerous conditions they face at sea.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, one of the lawmakers pushing for the change, said expanding the program would help fishermen access more safety training and mental health resources. Collins and lawmakers introduced the proposal late last week.

“Every day, our fishermen face demanding and dangerous working conditions that take both a physical and mental toll as they work to bring food to the tables of families across the country,” said another member of the group, the Democratic senator. Edward Markey of Massachusetts, who added that the expansion would “provide much-needed funding to ensure fishermen have the information and resources they need to stay safe and healthy on the job.”

Republican Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska is another supporter of the change. Alaska produces the largest volume of seafood in the country, while New England is home to New Bedford, Massachusetts, the largest U.S. port by seafood value.

The changes proposed by lawmakers would increase the program's annual funding from $6 million to $12 million, said Jacqueline Mundry, a spokesperson for Collins. The proposal would also remove a cost-sharing component from the program, Mundry said.

Commercial fishing is one of the most dangerous professions in the country, and access to more mental and behavioral health support is critical for the nation's fishermen, said Andrea Tomlinson, founder and executive director of the New England Young Fishermen's Alliance.

“Providing mental health and substance abuse care to our next generation of fishermen is essential to the success of our industry,” Tomlinson said.