Fishermen’s mental health discussed at Pacific Marine Expo

When considering health and self-care onboard commercial fishing boats, mental health is frequently overlooked. Fishing seasons are demanding, the working conditions can be grueling and support systems may be limited, which combine to create a perfect storm of stresses to workers’ mental health. The Alaska Marine Safety Education Association, a leader in maritime safety, is addressing the problem.

At the recent Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle, AMSEA executive director Leanne Cyr hosted a panel discussion on strategies for addressing stress for those working on the water. Participating panelists included Denise Damewood, a public health nurse and creator of Project Gabe, a program to address opioid addiction in fisheries; Jeff Farvour, a commercial longliner and troller; Marissa Baker, industrial hygiene program director and assistant professor at the University of Washington; and Tav Ammu, a commercial drift fisherman and Marine Advisory Program agent for Alaska Sea Grant in Bristol Bay.

Cyr highlighted the importance of mental health in the fishing industry. Recent research from the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety concluded that Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) levels for commercial fishermen are three times the national average for men.

“Although fishing can be one of the most isolating jobs out there, please don’t think you’re alone,” Cyr said. “If you or a crew member are experiencing chronic stress, addiction, or a crisis or mental health emergency, reach out for help.”

The panelists discussed various stressors that fishermen face, signs and symptoms of stress, obstacles that fishermen encounter in talking about mental health, as well as strategies and resources available, including when on a boat.

“It’s vital that fishermen have someone to check in with regarding their mental health,” Baker said. “Additionally, it is important for mental health resources to be tailored to the specific challenges associated with working as a fisherman.”

Ammu highlighted the challenges that fishing culture presents to opening up about mental struggles.

“A successful fishing operation is aware of the mental stressors as much as the physical ones,” Ammu said. “When doing difficult work, it’s easy to fall over the line of toughing it out and into stress overload—often without even being aware of it.”

Additional resources

• AMSEA incorporates mental health training into their CPR & First Aid classes, and has mental health resources for fishermen.
• Coping with an Accident at Sea is a free pamphlet available via download or by mail from Alaska Sea Grant.
• Anonymous free resources are available 24/7 for those that need to talk or text: National helpline (988), Alaskan Resource Center (211), and Alaska Careline.
• Project Gabe addresses the common problem of opioid addiction and overdose in commercial fishing, providing education and kits to help address opioid overdose. The kits have naloxone for reversing an opioid overdose, fentanyl test strips, and educational materials. Damewood founded the project in 2022 after her eldest son died of an opioid overdose at sea.

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Alaska Sea Grant is a statewide marine research, education, and outreach program, and is a partnership between the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Alaska Sea Grant Marine Advisory Program agents provide assistance that helps Alaskans wisely use, conserve, and enjoy marine and coastal resources.