State of the Science Meeting Series: Health and Safety of Gulf Coast and U.S. Caribbean Fishers

The objective of the proposed State of the Science Meeting Series: Health and Safety of Gulf Coast and U.S.
Caribbean Fishers reflects an integrated, multi-disciplinary collaboration focused on evidence informed
education bridging the gap between research and practice to improve fishing industry sector worker safety and
health. In 2018 the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) launched the
annual State of the Science (SOS) Meeting to better understand and enhance the uptake of evidence-based
practices that improve the health and safety of agricultural, forestry, and fisher populations and spotlight
emerging issues. The SCCAHS has convened a total of six meetings 2018 – 2023, with the annual theme
driven by community feedback reflecting their priorities, values, and experiences. The focus of this proposal is
to use the sound SCCAHS framework to create a forum that addresses cross-sector topics (musculoskeletal
health, injury prevention, surveillance, climate adaptation and mental health) and the effectiveness of practices
and policies on U.S. Gulf and Caribbean fisher communities. The meeting outcomes will contribute to stronger
collaboration between regional researchers and serve as a vehicle to disseminate research findings more
broadly to community stakeholders related to NIOSH strategic and intermediate goals on musculoskeletal
disorders, workplace safety, and healthy work design and well-being. The leadership team seeks to convene
two SOS meetings in partnership with the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) in November 2024
and 2025. The SOS meetings will be convened pre-GCFI Annual Conference specialty workshops in
collaboration with the NIOSH Office of Agricultural Safety and Health and an Organizing Committee. These
groups understand the burden and needs of commercial and artisanal fishing workers – climate change
impacts, governance, and adherence to safety interventions. These meetings will be driven by the long-term
goal to cultivate partnerships and interdisciplinary collaboration, share national and regional research findings,
engage the community as leaders in the research process and mobilize responsive programming to serve real-
time conditions and challenges. The conference plan will be directed by NIOSH strategic goals and
corresponding specific aims: 1) to provide oversight in aligning speakers/discussion leaders in addressing
knowledge gaps and emerging issues impacting Gulf Coast and U.S. Caribbean fisher populations, 2) to
embed hallmark community led meeting track – Community Voices: The impact of climate variability on
fisheries productivity and fisher livelihoods, 3) to implement networking opportunities to advance collaborations
among Gulf Coast and U.S. Caribbean stakeholders, and 4) to evaluate, translate, and disseminate research
to practice findings into public information products. The proposed work is important because Gulf South,
Puerto Rico, Saint Croix, Saint John and Saint Thomas coastal areas and island territories must join the
discussion to support capacity building and promoting fisheries research, assessment, and management.

Grant Number: 5U13OH012714-02
NIH Institute/Center: ALLCDC
Principal Investigator: FARAH Arosemena