COVID-19 safety webinar for commercial fishing operations and seafood processors

As Alaska gears up for another fishing season in the midst of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Alaska Sea Grant is ready to assist seafood processors and commercial fishing operations with accessing and understanding current safety operations guidance and mandates.

On April 28 from 12–2pm, Alaska Sea Grant will host a webinar “Federal and State guidance and mandates for the Alaskan commercial fishing and seafood processing industries,” featuring presentations from the CDC/NIOSH, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, and the State of Alaska COVID-19 Unified Command. The webinar will include the most up-to-date science and guidelines, which have changed since the summer of 2020.

CDC/NIOSH will present current guidance for land-based seafood processors. Topics will include review of the CDC’s federal guidelines for workplace safety; close contact workplace safety and how to remain safe when you must work less than six feet apart; and using control measures such as elimination, engineering, work policies and procedures, vaccinations, and the proper use of PPE. The presentation will include information about the science of vaccines, and why vaccinations are important for people who are working in close quarters and can’t socially distance.

The Department of Health and Social Services, and State of Alaska COVID-19 Unified Command will focus their presentations on workplace measures to promote safety, vaccine availability, how to schedule an appointment to receive a vaccine in Alaska, and current statewide health or travel mandates. State mandates and vaccine availability have changed since the summer of 2020.

Registration will be available on the webinar event page and is required to attend the webinar.

There will be limited time for questions at the end of the webinar. Due to the anticipated large number of attendees, registrants will have the opportunity to submit their questions when they register. This will enable the presenters to address as many questions as possible during the presentation.

For additional information about managing COVID-19 risk, including state and federal guidance and how to apply for relief, visit Alaska Sea Grant’s COVID-19 resources.