What Would You Wear While Fishing? PFD Project Wants to Find Out

Did you know that falls overboard are the leading cause of death in the Northeast lobster fishery? According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Center for Maritime Safety and Health Studies, these deaths could largely be prevented with the use of personal flotation devices (PFDs). Lobstermen in Maine and Massachusetts are taking part in a project to redesign PFDs. Designed just for Northeast commercial lobstermen, the project involves trying different models of PFDs and giving feedback about how comfortable and workable the models are.

The lobstermen receive an honorarium for participating, and they also get to keep the PFD when the project is complete. But perhaps the most important incentive for participation is they will help keep other lobstermen alive.Fishermen consistently report that they do not regularly wear PFDs because they are not comfortable and can be difficult and dangerous to work in. Given that falling overboard often ends in death, there is a strong need to redesign PFDs to meet the needs of the lobstermen. Thus the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety (NEC), Fishing Partnership Support Services (FPSS), and Northeast lobstermen are collaborating to figure out specifically what works for lobstermen when it comes to PFDs and then redesign them to meet the needs of this fishing sector. The goal is to create innovative solutions to keep lobstermen alive if they fall overboard. Falls overboard will happen, but they do not have to be fatal.

In January, 80 lobstermen started wearing one of the eight PFD models chosen after surveying lobstermen through the Maine and Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Associations. More lobstermen will be invited to join the project in the summer, and others can participate in phone surveys. In order to gather a range of perspectives, participants will be randomly selected.Thank you to all the lobstermen who are helping with this endeavor! We are also extremely grateful to the following manufacturers who have donated or provided discounted rates on PFDs for this project: Hyde Sportswear, Kent, Mullion, Mustang Survival, Quatic Apparel, Spinlock, and Stormline. Thank you for all of your support!