March 23, 2016 — WASHINGTON — In a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Homeland Security, six U.S. senators urged funding for the Fishing Safety Training Grant Program and Fishing Safety Research Grant Program in Homeland Security’s 2017 appropriations bill.
“The safety and survival of our commercial fishermen are of the utmost importance, and we fully support the expansion of safety training requirements,” the senators wrote. “We are concerned, however, that the high costs of this required training will fall entirely on the fishing families in our states who continue to experience tremendous financial strain.”
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 (CGAA) extended the scope of safety and survival training programs for commercial fishermen. The safety rules, which took effect in 2015, require individuals in charge of commercial fishing vessels to complete the training if they operate beyond three nautical miles offshore. Previously, this training was only mandatory for individuals operating beyond 13 nautical miles offshore.
“Safety and survival training is critically important for fishermen who, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, work in the deadliest industry in America and are 37 times more likely to die on the job than a police officer,” the senators wrote. “This training undoubtedly saves lives.”
The signatories were Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), Sen. Angus King (I-ME), Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-WA).