The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has called on its members to share good practice already in place or being developed to help keep workers safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In terms of managing risk, fishing has some advantages, such as low levels of contact with the public. Fishing vessels can be considered as sealed workplaces but physical distancing in the confined spaces on fishing vessels is a challenge.
The wide variety of sizes, shapes and operations of fishing vessels do not lend themselves to one-size-fits-all guidance and the government has not issued specific guidelines for the industry. The NFFO is aware that the owners and operators are showing their resourcefulness and developing their own guidance on how to operate safely.
By asking fishermen for their views the NFFO plans to produce a useful check-list that will help to inform each vessel operator how best to provide safe working conditions. It has therefore implemented a telephone and online survey to quickly collect ideas from its members which will then be shared across the industry and used to inform government guidance through a specially convened Defra working group.
