# Improving Commercial Fishing Training and Outreach for Alaska Salmon Set Gillnetters

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · ALASKA MARINE SAFETY EDUCATION ASSN · 2023 · $231,378

## Abstract

Project Abstract
Burden/Need/Impact: Occupational health research in commercial fishing has demonstrated a
need for tailored interventions. This is especially true for Alaska Native workers and salmon set
gillnet fishermen who are experiencing the highest fatality rates in Alaska. The unique salmon
set gillnet fishing communities, largely Alaska Native, have their own traditional safety
knowledge that needs to be acknowledged and utilized in any successful outreach effort or
training initiative.
Objectives: The objective of this research is to reduce marine fatalities for salmon set
gillnetters by achieving the following specific aims 1) identify needs, barriers, motivators, and
best practices to influence marine safety behaviors, 2) use community-based strategies to
promote participation in training and increased use of life saving equipment, 3) develop and
conduct tailored trainings based on needs, barriers, motivators, and best practices, 4) evaluate
the training and outreach efforts, and 5) share findings with fishermen, training centers,
stakeholders in marine safety, and the research community.
Methods: This project utilizes a community-based participatory research approach with the
unique salmon set gillnet fishing communities in Yakutat, Bristol Bay, and Norton Sound. Three
focus groups will inform needs, barriers, motivators, and best practices to influence marine
safety. Community-based outreach strategies and 3 tailored trainings will be developed and
implemented. Pre-and-post training surveys will be collected from trainees on skills, knowledge,
attitudes, beliefs, marine safety behaviors, and use of life saving equipment/procedures.
Training and outreach efforts will be evaluated and shared with marine safety instructors and
training centers to improve future efforts. Finally, training curriculum, methods, outreach tools,
and study findings will be shared with salmon set gillnetters and marine safety stakeholders.
Outcomes: End outcomes include increased marine safety knowledge, skills, awareness,
attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and use of life saving equipment by commercial salmon set
gillnetters. This should be measurable by a reduction of fatalities for the Alaska salmon set gillnet
fleet over time.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10771712
- **Project number:** 1U01OH012653-01
- **Recipient organization:** ALASKA MARINE SAFETY EDUCATION ASSN
- **Principal Investigator:** Leann Fay Cyr
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $231,378
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-09-01 → 2026-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10771712

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10771712, Improving Commercial Fishing Training and Outreach for Alaska Salmon Set Gillnetters (1U01OH012653-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10771712. Licensed CC0.

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