U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Thanks Senators for Work on Mask Mandate, Continue to Urge CDC to Update Guidelines
/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 15, 2021
Media Contacts:
Blake Androff, (202) 234-1224
Andy Wink, (907) 677-2374
Frances Leach, (907) 586-2820
Leigh Habegger, (703) 794-5114
U.S. Commercial Fishing Industry Thanks Senators for Work on Mask Mandate, Continue to Urge CDC to Update Guidelines
WASHINGTON, DC—The Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association (BBRSDA), the United Fishermen of Alaska (UFA), and the Seafood Harvesters of America (SHA) applaud the hard work of Senators Hassan (D-NH), Murkowski (R-AK), Sullivan (R-AK), and others to elevate mask mandate concerns for commercial fishing vessels to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). We appreciate the updated guidance from the CDC regarding masking for vaccinated individuals outdoors. However, the updated guidance still fails to recognize and reflect the unique nature of commercial fishing vessels and our vessel operations. Our regional, state, and national organizations request the CDC further update these guidelines.
“Our elected officials have conveyed commercial fishermen’s concerns directly to the CDC—wearing masks while commercial fishing does very little to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and creates a safety risk for thousands of fishermen, like those headed to Bristol Bay for the salmon fishery kicking off this month. The BBRSDA worked tirelessly with communities and processors to ensure a safe season last summer. This year we aim to do the same and have updated our 2021 Fisherman’s Covid-19 Handbook. As we wrote in March 2021 to the U.S. Coast Guard, wearing a mask onboard a 32-foot vessel creates an enormous safety hazard to fishermen, and is not a reasonable request for safety-at-sea against Covid-19. Still requiring masks indoors can prevent clear communication in loud situations, can fog glasses in humid conditions, and masks are not as effective once wet. We thank our colleagues and Senators in raising this issue and we hope the CDC will update these guidelines to properly reflect the diverse and special safety needs of on-the-water operations.” - Andy Wink, Executive Director, Bristol Bay Regional Seafood Development Association
“United Fishermen of Alaska has been in direct contact with the CDC to explain that the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) definition of ‘conveyance vessel’ explicitly excludes commercial fishing vessels; however, fishing vessels are still included in the mask mandate requirements. Our Senators understand that distinction as well as the safety hazard masks pose while onboard, and we thank them for their efforts in helping find a common-sense solution. With the summer salmon season underway, we hope the CDC will again update their guidance as soon as possible.” - Matt Alward, President of United Fishermen of Alaska.
“We appreciate the continued efforts of the Senators and staff who worked with the U.S. Coast Guard and the CDC to help update the mask mandate guidelines for the commercial fishing industry so that the guidelines are more relevant and sensible for our operations. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the commercial fishing industry has responded in a myriad of ways including implementing strict quarantine and testing requirements in order to keep captains and crew safe. We urge the CDC to work with the commercial fishing industry so the agency can better understand our concerns and develop smart, practical guidelines that reflect the operational needs of our vessels and the current science. Doing so will improve safety onboard our vessels and encourage compliance. Throughout the pandemic, we have prioritized the health and safety of our fishermen and will continue to do so to ensure we are able to safely supply fresh, sustainable seafood to American consumers.” - Leigh Habegger, Executive Director, Seafood Harvesters of America
Additional background:
On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13998, Promoting Covid-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, and shortly after on January 29, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued their order, “Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs.” Based on this EO and the CDC order, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin on February 1 that required all commercial vessels, including fishing vessels, to implement mask wearing protocols onboard. However, despite the fact that the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) definition of “conveyance vessel” explicitly excludes commercial fishing vessels, fishing vessels were still included in the mask mandate requirements.
On March 22, the USCG issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin related to the mask mandate that did not change any requirements, but provided additional context and information in its FAQ. The CDC order allows for mask-wearing exceptions for “a person for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty as determined by the relevant workplace safety guidelines or federal regulations.” This language is reflected in the USCG FAQ that allows a vessel operator to provide clear guidance specifying when wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duty.
On May 11th, CDC Director Rochelle Wolensky appeared before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and acknowledged that she was aware of commercial fishermen’s concerns.
On June 11th, the USCG issued another Marine Safety Information Bulletin related to the mask mandate that changed requirements for fully vaccinated crews outdoors, but kept mask-wearing guidance indoors.
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