Fishermen Face Rising Safety Risks as Federal Training Programs Lose Funding

Commercial fisherman Robbie Roberge credits a safety training course for saving his life and crew when fire engulfed his vessel offshore last August. Just months earlier, he had attended a workshop by Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS), which trains East Coast fishermen in emergency procedures. However, programs like FPSS may soon be drastically reduced or shut down due to sweeping federal budget cuts, especially those impacting the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).

The Trump administration’s April 1 staffing cuts at NIOSH—eliminating roughly 875 positions—have left many regional safety centers without guidance or funding. These centers, which support hazardous industries like fishing, farming, and logging, are now preparing to scale back or close as funding ends this summer and fall. Experts warn that without these training programs, injury and fatality rates could rise, placing more pressure on emergency services.

Organizations like the Alaska Marine Safety Education Association and FPSS face looming funding deadlines, and some centers have already ceased outreach and research. Advocates argue that the long-term cost savings and lives saved by training far outweigh the program expenses. Yet despite limited reinstatements at NIOSH, core programs remain unfunded.

Workers in these high-risk fields—where fatality rates are over seven times the national average—face unique dangers and health challenges, from opioid addiction to hypertension. Without continued investment in education and training, community trust and hard-won safety gains could quickly erode.