# Commercial fishing vessel stability and primary prevention policy

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL · 2024 · $468,054

## Abstract

Over the last 30 years, safety and health knowledge has increased and helped reduce fatali�es through
secondary preven�on a�er vessel casualty occurs, yet vessel instability at sea has been causally related
to over half of commercial fishing vessel casual�es in a persistent rate, annually. Our prior research
indicated USCG vessel loss inspec�ons have commonly recommended a rou�ne stability assessment
requirement for US commercial fishing vessels. Such data are not used internally to assess progress
towards USCG fishing vessel program goals. Therefore, the main goal for this work is to formulate a
strategy to effec�vely implement the desired policy and ul�mately to improve vessel stability in the
industry. The strategy will be extracted from our analysis of two main data sources: the USCG
commercial fishing vessel incident inves�ga�on reports, and key informant interviews of inves�gators
and policy and administra�ve stakeholders. This will provide focused, objec�ve aten�on to exis�ng data
combined with stakeholder knowledge about how to overcome ins�tu�onal or poli�cal barriers toward
implemen�ng a proven primary preven�on policy.
By seeking to increase safety and health informa�on sharing, the purpose of our proposed work and
collabora�ve partnership aligns with the interests of the NIOSH/USCG coopera�ve agreement as well as
the NORA AFF goals. We seek informa�on to answer the following ques�ons:
 1. What does the Coast Guard recommend regarding stability?
 2. Have those recommenda�ons been acted on?
 3. If not, why not?
We will conduct semi-structured, key informant interviews of USCG personnel to determine the process
or procedure the USCG currently uses to translate their own recommenda�ons into policy. We will use
qualita�ve analysis methods to objec�vely clarify the steps necessary to successfully implement such a
policy, and to form a report to disseminate to stakeholders. A final report on the cumula�ve key
informant interviews and recommenda�ons analysis will inform a strategy to meet shared goals of the
coopera�ve agreement through policy implementa�on rather than con�nue to allow the regulatory
status quo and persistent loss of life.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10915862
- **Project number:** 1U01OH012716-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL
- **Principal Investigator:** Scott Fulmer
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $468,054
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2027-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10915862

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10915862, Commercial fishing vessel stability and primary prevention policy (1U01OH012716-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10915862. Licensed CC0.

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