Maritime Injury Law Blog

Published on: May 14, 2025

Empowering Alaska Fishermen Through Insurance Cooperatives

House Bill 116 is currently under consideration by the Alaska State Senate, representing a potential turning point for the state’s commercial fishing industry. This legislation would authorize Alaskan fishermen to form their own insurance cooperatives, which would lower operating costs and ensure the financial stability of smaller operators facing increasingly difficult economic conditions. Having passed the House unanimously, the bill is now before the Senate, with a strong possibility of enactment this session.

The bill originated from the Joint Legislative Task Force Evaluating Alaska’s Seafood Industry, which analyzed and identified growing financial strains on commercial fishermen. As Representative Louise Stutes, R-Kodiak, and Senate President Gary Stevens have emphasized, the combination of record-high operating costs and record-low fishing market prices calls for innovative solutions to support this vital sector of Alaska’s economy.

The primary concern driving this legislation is the increasing cost and decreasing availability of traditional insurance for fishing vessels. Underwriters are reportedly increasing premiums and becoming more selective with their customers. This has created a significant barrier for many independent fishermen seeking insurance. By enabling fishermen to collectively pool their resources, they can create a larger, potentially lower-risk insurance pool, theoretically leading to more attractive rates and greater access to coverage.

Published on: May 12, 2025

Coast Guard Suspends Search for Missing Captain After Fishing Vessel Sinks Near Westport

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

The sinking of the 68-foot fishing vessel F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH near Grays Harbor, Washington, has sent a wave of grief through Pacific Northwest fishing communities. The tragic incident has left Newport captain Jon Stevenson, a seasoned mariner, missing. In the wake of this devastating event, an outpouring of support for the Stevenson family has begun, including a vigil held by the Fishermen’s Wives in Newport on Saturday evening and the launch of a GoFundMe campaign.

The U.S. Coast Guard has called off the search for the 44-year-old captain of the F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH, which sank Friday morning near the entrance to Grays Harbor. Three other individuals who were aboard the 68-foot vessel were rescued from the water by a U.S. Coast Guard boat crew.

The F/V CAPTAIN RALEIGH issued a distress call around 8:15 a.m., reporting they were rapidly taking on water and onboard pumps were failing. U.S. Coast Guard Sector Columbia watchstanders immediately broadcast an urgent marine information notice and dispatched rescue assets, including boat crews from Station Grays Harbor and an aircrew from Air Station Astoria.

Published on: May 6, 2025

Rock Crab Fishing Returns to Northern California

by Nigel Stacey

After nearly a decade, commercial fishermen in northern California are once again permitted to harvest rock crab. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has announced the reopening of the commercial fishery along the coast from the California Oregon border south to the north jetty of Humboldt Bay. This long stretch of rock crab habitat has been closed since 2015 due to persistent domoic acid contamination.

The initial closure of this fishery stemmed from the most extensive recorded bloom of domoic acid along the West Coast. Emergency regulations were enacted, and despite subsequent declines in toxin levels, the area remained off limits through a series of state declarations due to a lack of consistent testing in the years that followed.

A turning point arrived with renewed engagement from commercial fishermen, who proactively began submitting rock crab samples from both central and northern California waters. These efforts proved successful, as recent testing now confirms that domoic acid levels in the newly reopened zone are safely below the federal action level of 30 parts per million for crab viscera.

Published on: April 29, 2025

Alaska Senators Advocate for Seafood Worker Visa Exemption

by Nigel Stacey

A bipartisan effort led by Alaska U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski and supported by fellow coastal state senators has introduced new legislation aimed at providing relief to the Alaska seafood processing industry. The proposed “Save Our Seafood Act” seeks to exempt seafood processing companies from the federal cap imposed on the temporary H-2B visa program in order to secure the industry’s workforce and overall stability.

The Alaska seafood sector annually depends on international laborers, primarily from Mexico, the Philippines, and Ukraine. These workers fill essential processing roles during the intense, high-volume commercial fishing seasons. Before turning to the H-2B visa program, companies must demonstrate an inability to recruit enough American workers. Thousands of guest workers are hired each year to meet the demanding labor needs.

However, seafood processing companies compete for H-2B visas alongside various non-agricultural industries, including construction, landscaping, and hospitality. The current congressional cap of 66,000 visas per year, divided into two seasonal allocations, creates uncertainty and potential workforce shortages for the seafood industry.

Published on: April 22, 2025

Stacey & Jacobsen Cares: A Call for Reduced Alcohol Use Among Commercial Fishermen at Sea

by Stacey & Jacobsen, PLLC

Commercial fishing is undeniably tough work that demands resilience through long hours, hard physical labor, and often isolating periods in some of nature’s most challenging environments. It’s understandable that the combination of these physical and mental demands can create pressure for people who work at sea. This post highlights the genuine risks linked to alcohol use while working at sea, and we want to advocate for practical and healthy ways to handle the stress, fatigue, and boredom that can sometimes come with life working on a fishing vessel. Everyone is entitled to a safe fishing community.

Life as a commercial fisherman is not easy. Being away from loved ones for long periods of time and spotty communication can lead to feelings of loneliness. The constant cycle of long and unpredictable work hours can lead to severe fatigue. Financial uncertainties and harsh weather conditions can add even more stress. It’s no surprise that some in the maritime industry turn to alcohol, especially binge drinking, to cope. While it might offer a quick feeling of relief, alcohol can impact safety by affecting those crucial thinking and physical skills we all need to perform our work at sea.

Alcohol acts like a depressant on our nervous system, significantly affecting judgment, coordination, reaction time, and even our eyesight. All of these are important for safety aboard a fishing vessel. These effects can be stronger at sea due to vessel movement, engine noise, and just plain fatigue. Even a small amount of alcohol can lead to risky situations.

Published on: April 15, 2025

Three Rescued after Scallop Boat Capsizes

by Nigel Stacey

On April 11, 2025, a commercial scallop boat capsized near Green Island in Boston Harbor. A swift rescue and a coordinated environmental response began after the vessel started leaking fuel into area waters.

At 7:46 a.m., watchstanders at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston received a broken radio transmission from the F/V EILEEN RITA, a 90-foot vessel homeported in New Bedford, Massachusetts. They soon established communication with the captain, who confirmed the vessel had run aground on rocks near Green Island and was taking on water. The vessel began listing onto its side, prompting the three crew members to don survival suits and climb onto the gunwale, approximately 15 feet above the waterline while awaiting rescue.

Body camera footage released by police shows the crewmembers sliding down the side of the listing vessel and boarding a Boston Police boat. They were later evaluated by Boston EMS.

Published on: April 6, 2025

Coast Guard Urges Safe Use and Registration of Emergency Beacons

by Nigel Stacey

Every April 6th marks “406 Day,” a nationwide effort led by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to educate mariners about Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs). EPIRBs are critical life-saving devices that send out distress signals to rescue teams when someone is in danger on the water.

EPIRBs work by transmitting a recognized distress signal via satellite, quickly alerting search and rescue (SAR) teams to the location of an emergency. However, for these devices to effectively save lives, it’s crucial that they are correctly registered, regularly tested, responsibly used, and properly disposed of when no longer in use.

The Fifth Coast Guard District highlighted the need for responsible EPIRB management by sharing these 2024 statistics: they responded to 830 EPIRB alerts. Of these, only 18 were genuine distress signals. 386 alerts were confirmed as false, and another 426 were unknown or suspected false alerts. These unnecessary alerts resulted in over 40 hours spent on surface searches, more than 45 hours on air searches, and over 2,550 command center man-hours.

Published on: April 1, 2025

Securing Maritime Safety through Vessel Maintenance

by Nigel Stacey

Proper maintenance and rebuilding of fishing vessels is critical for ensuring the safety and livelihood of fishermen at sea. Regular inspections, repairs, and upgrades not only extend the life of these vessels but also significantly reduce the risk of accidents and equipment failures, ultimately protecting the crews who rely on them.

This is where Fred Wahl Marine Construction in Reedsport, Oregon steps in. The company has established itself as a leading shipyard, specializing in the construction of high-quality commercial vessels known for their exceptional dependability and durability. This is also where fishing vessels from up and down the West Coast come for repairs and upgrades. Recently, the company has been working on vessels from areas such as Long Beach, California, Newport, Oregon, and Sand Point, Alaska.

From Long Beach, the squid seiner PROVIDER, measuring 59 feet by 24 feet, is getting a major update. Although it had new sponsons installed in 2014 to widen its hull, the original wheelhouse remained. Over time, corrosion developed where the old wheelhouse met the newer deck, requiring the entire wheelhouse to be replaced. Additionally, the PROVIDER is scheduled to receive a new stern tube and improved steering components.

Published on: April 1, 2025

Air Station Sitka Helicopter Crew Rescues Woman from F/V Nekton

by Nigel Stacey

On March 26, 2025, an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crew from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Sitka successfully conducted a medevac of a 37-year-old woman experiencing a medical emergency in Sitka Sound, Alaska. The woman, who was aboard the fishing vessel NEKTON, required immediate medical attention.

The aircrew responded swiftly to the distress call. After arriving on the scene, they skillfully maneuvered the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter above the fishing vessel to safely execute the hoist operation. Despite challenges posed by the weather and the vessel’s movements, the U.S. Coast Guard team efficiently transported the patient aboard the aircraft.

Following the successful hoist, the helicopter crew transferred the woman to awaiting local emergency medical personnel in Sitka. The patient received further evaluation and care upon arrival, highlighting the seamless collaboration between the U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency responders.

Published on: March 26, 2025

Coast Guard Cutter Naushon Retired After 40 Years

by Nigel Stacey

In a ceremony celebrating nearly four decades of service, the U.S. Coast Guard officially decommissioned the Cutter NAUSHON on Friday March 21^st, 2025, in Homer, Alaska. Presiding over the event was Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Commander of U.S. Coast Guard District 17, who honored the vessel’s long standing commitment and its crews’ significant contributions to national security and community safety.

Commissioned on October 3^rd, 1986, the NAUSHON was placed into active duty as the 11th vessel in the Island-Class patrol boat fleet. Throughout its service, the NAUSHON exemplified the versatility and dependability that the Island-Class cutters are known for. The cutter played a crucial role in safeguarding Alaska’s challenging coastal waters and provided crucial assistance in marine law enforcement, environmental protection, national defense operations, and numerous lifesaving missions.

Since 2016, when it began operating from Homer, Alaska, the NAUSHON significantly strengthened maritime safety along Alaska’s rugged coastline. While stationed in Homer, the vessel and its crew answered the call in over 50 critical search-and-rescue missions, providing essential assistance to mariners in distress. The NAUSHON also completed nearly 900 law enforcement missions, underscoring its vital role in maintaining maritime security and enforcing federal maritime laws across Alaskan waters.