Maritime Injury Law Blog

Published on: January 20, 2026

What Are My Rights as an Injured Commercial Fisherman?

If you were hurt while working on a commercial fishing boat, you might have questions about your legal rights and protections. Unlike most land-based workers, commercial fishermen typically cannot access state workers’ compensation benefits. Instead, your rights fall under Federal Maritime Law and the Jones Act, legal frameworks specifically designed to protect maritime workers.

What Makes Federal Maritime Law Different?

Federal Maritime Law shares some similarities with traditional workers’ compensation systems, but it offers several distinct advantages for injured workers. When a commercial fisherman suffers an injury due to negligence or an unseaworthy vessel, they have legal recourse through both the Jones Act and General Maritime Law.

Published on: January 13, 2026

Maintenance and Cure Benefits Required for Cold Weather Injuries

by Nigel Stacey

January presents additional challenges for maritime personnel. The onset of icy conditions increases the risk associated with daily operations, making routine movements more hazardous and demanding heightened vigilance. Frozen equipment can fail when needed, and visibility drops during winter storms. The structural icing that builds up on vessels can affect stability in ways that turn a fishing trip or a tow into a life-threatening situation.

If you’ve been injured while working on a vessel during winter months, whether from a slip on an icy deck, equipment failure in freezing conditions, or any other cold-weather accident, you need to understand your rights under federal maritime law. The maintenance and cure doctrine exists precisely for moments like these, providing a safety net regardless of how or why the injury occurred.

Winter Brings Predictable Hazards

Published on: January 6, 2026

Nine Fishermen Rescued After Vessel Runs Aground in Bering Sea Storm

by Nigel Stacey

On Monday, January 5th, 2026, nine fishermen spent more than seven hours stranded on their vessel near St. George Island during hurricane force winds. The individuals were subsequently rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard.

The F/V ARCTIC SEA ran aground near the remote island of St. George, located 750 miles southwest of Anchorage, in conditions that made rescue treacherous. Winds were up to 50 knots with 10-foot seas when the U.S. Coast Guard’s Juneau command center received the distress call at 4:11 a.m.

A nearby fishing vessel, the F/V NORTH SEA, reached the scene first but couldn’t attempt a rescue in the extreme weather. Instead, the crew provided real-time updates to U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders coordinating the response.

Published on: December 16, 2025

Fire Aboard Fishing Vessel near Florida Coast

by Nigel Stacey

On Sunday, December 14th, 2025, a fisherman was rescued after his vessel caught fire approximately 100 miles west of Clearwater, Florida.

At 3:27 p.m., the U.S. Coast Guard’s Southeast District was alerted by an emergency position radio beacon, prompting them to dispatch a Clearwater MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter rescue team.

The fisherman abandoned the burning vessel and was located in a life raft near the site, where sea conditions measured 2 to 4 feet with winds of 14 knots. The U.S. Coast Guard dispatched a rescue swimmer and safely hoisted the fisherman at approximately 5:46 p.m.

Published on: December 16, 2025

Snow Crab Population Collapse Linked to Energy Depletion During Marine Heatwave

by Nigel Stacey

A recent study has revealed key insights into the dramatic drop in eastern Bering Sea snow crab populations during 2018–2019, marking one of the largest ever recorded marine mortality events. Led by NOAA Alaska Fisheries Science Center biologist Erin Fedewa, the groundbreaking study examined energy reserves in snow crabs before, during, and after this catastrophic decline, offering both explanations for the collapse and hope for recovery.

The research team developed an innovative approach to monitor crab health by measuring energy reserves stored in the hepatopancreas, a specialized organ combining liver and pancreas functions in crabs. This method proved crucial in identifying why billions of snow crabs disappeared from Bering Sea waters. Researchers found that young crabs suffered from starvation due to unusually warm seas and crowded populations competing for scarce food.

The research offers fresh perspectives on what snow crabs need from their habitat. Findings reveal that snow crabs, which typically live in the cold pool of the Bering Sea at temperatures below 2°C, actually require water colder than 0°C to preserve the energy they need to survive. Scientists noted that a marine heatwave added extra stress, since higher temperatures raised the crabs’ metabolic rates while reducing their available food and habitat. These combined factors left many crabs without enough energy to live. The drop in numbers was especially severe among juvenile crabs, threatening the long-term health of the fishery.

Published on: December 2, 2025

Fatigue Among Maritime Workers Presents a Significant Safety Concern at Sea

by Nigel Stacey

When most people think about dangerous jobs, they picture dramatic accidents such as explosions, falls, or machinery malfunctions. However, a significant yet often overlooked risk affecting America’s 400,000 maritime workers is chronic fatigue. This silent hazard can undermine safety across commercial fishing vessels, cargo ships, offshore platforms, and seafood processing facilities, contributing to an industry fatality rate nearly five times higher than the national average.

The maritime industry operates within unique and challenging environments. Unlike land based staff who typically complete their shifts and then go home, maritime workers often reside at their workplace for long stretches, sometimes lasting weeks or even months. The overlap of work and personal life can lead to ongoing fatigue that builds up over time. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Alaska’s seafood processing workers often face extremely long shifts of 12 to 18 hours, frequently working for weeks at a time without significant breaks.

What makes maritime fatigue especially dangerous is how it intersects with the industry’s inherent hazards. Commercial fishing consistently ranks among America’s deadliest professions. When you layer sleep deprivation onto already treacherous conditions involving heavy machinery, unpredictable weather, and physically demanding labor, the consequences can be catastrophic.

Published on: November 25, 2025

Shape the Future of Fishing Vessel Safety

by Nigel Stacey

Have you ever thought about how safety regulations for commercial fishing vessels get decided? The U.S. Coast Guard wants to hear from people like you.

They’re looking for new members to join the National Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Advisory Committee, a group that meets twice each year to help develop safety policies affecting fishing operations nationwide. They are especially interested in hearing from those working on the water and those building the equipment that keeps crews safe.

The U.S. Coast Guard is specifically looking for fishermen and manufacturers to fill current openings. If you’ve spent time on commercial vessels or you design and build equipment for the fishing industry, your practical knowledge is exactly what this committee needs.

Published on: November 18, 2025

Four Rescued from Sinking Vessel Near Grays Harbor, Washington

by Nigel Stacey

On Monday, November 17, 2025, four individuals were rescued near Grays Harbor, Washington, after their vessel began taking on water and was reportedly sinking.

The crew of a nearby good Samaritan F/V LADY NANCY pulled the individuals from the water and performed CPR on one person who was unresponsive. The U.S. Coast Guard later used a helicopter to hoist the group and transfer them to a hospital in Hoquiam, WA.

At least one person remained in serious condition after being transported to the hospital, and all were being treated for hypothermia.

Published on: November 11, 2025

Dual Engine Failure Turns into Five Day Ordeal for F/V Great Pacific

by Nigel Stacey

On October 27, 2025, the F/V GREAT PACIFIC, a 134-foot U.S. fishing trawler carrying five crew members, lost power approximately 100 miles south of Yakutat, Alaska. The vessel suffered a broken drive shaft, leaving it dead in the water and adrift in rough 30-foot seas.

The crew contacted the U.S. Coast Guard, which dispatched the USCGC JOHN WITHERSPOON to assist. On October 29^th, the U.S. Coast Guard cutter successfully took the disabled fishing vessel in tow. However, as the USCGC JOHN WITHERSPOON towed the F/V GREAT PACIFIC near Kayak Island, the Coast Guard cutter itself suffered a main engine failure. Unable to maintain the tow, the cutter was forced to release the tow line, leaving the F/V GREAT PACIFIC unmanned and adrift in the Gulf of Alaska.

All five crew members were evacuated by the U.S. Coast Guard, but the F/V GREAT PACIFIC drifted without anyone aboard for five days across the Gulf of Alaska. During this period, the Marine Exchange of Alaska operations center in Juneau monitored the vessel’s movements closely, tracking its position and alerting other ships around the drifting vessel.

Published on: November 4, 2025

Maintenance and Cure Rates for 2025 Alaska Fishermen

by Nigel Stacey

If you’re injured while working on a vessel in Alaska, your maintenance payments should reflect the actual cost of living there, not just employer-set rates. Many vessel owners underpay maritime workers during recovery, disregarding the higher costs in remote locations.

While this article will address the specific rates and challenges facing Alaska’s commercial fishermen and processors, a detailed explanation of maintenance and cure is available at Maintenance and Cure Medical Treatment Rights.

The True Cost of Living