# Examining the Physical, Mental, and Social Health Outcomes Among Commercial Fishers to Inform Policy and Practice

> **NIH ALLCDC K01** · UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON · 2021 · $108,000

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Despite the economic impact fishers have on the US economy, commercial fishing is an understudied
population and continues to be one of the most dangerous industries in the US, with a fatality rate 29 times
higher than the national average. Falls overboard and vessel disasters are two of the highest fatal and non-
fatal injuries fishers face. Despite these alarming statistics, commercial fishers are an understudied population,
especially when considering that US commercial fishing, the seafood industry, and recreational fishing
generated $208 billion in sales impacts, contributed $97 billion to the GDP, and supported 1.6 million full and
part time jobs. Falls overboard and vessel disasters are rapidly increasing traumatic injuries for commercial
fishers, yet little is known about how to translate research findings to influence and improve maritime policy
and practice. Non-fatal injuries can have disastrous occupational health outcomes such as lost work time and
wages, unemployment, long-term disability, and psychological stress. Further, fatal and non-fatal injuries effect
all aspects of family life, including the physical and mental health of infants and children in the household.
Thus, there is a critical need for evidence-based research that informs policies to improve the well-being of
these communities. The future of work equity will demand a research agenda that looks at occupational health
holistically, including a focus on social and economic risk factors and a specification of social policies and
policy prescriptions to promote equity in the workplace. To address this need, I will conduct a systematic
review and holistic ethnography (i.e., participant observation, semi-structured interviews, photovoice) using
interpretive policy analysis to study the structural and social causes for increased traumatic injuries for
commercial fishers, analyzing and translating those findings to policymakers and practitioners. Although
improving work equity for maritime workers is decidedly difficult, it is possible. In addition to overcoming
limitations of previous research-to-practice and research-to-policy studies, this will be among the first study to
rigorously evaluate the health outcomes of Gulf Coast commercial fishers and translate the findings for state
and federal policymakers. This innovative project addresses a NIOSH priority goal (6.1H) and will ultimately
result in reduced fatal and non-fatal injuries and improve lives for commercial fishers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10301975
- **Project number:** 1K01OH012107-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS MED BR GALVESTON
- **Principal Investigator:** Shannon Paige Guillot-Wright
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $108,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10301975

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10301975, Examining the Physical, Mental, and Social Health Outcomes Among Commercial Fishers to Inform Policy and Practice (1K01OH012107-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10301975. Licensed CC0.

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