Published: 29 January 2025 Updated: 29 January 2025
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DATE 29 Jan 2025
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FEEDBACK/STORY SUGGESTIONS Dempsey Ward Communication Coordinator +61 2 6122 2134 dempsey.ward@frdc.com.au

The Sea Safe program is uniting the Australian seafood sector to tackle workplace fatalities and injuries, by improving safety in one of the world’s most hazardous occupations. 

Commercial fishing is among the world’s most dangerous industries, with workplace fatalities and injuries remaining a significant concern. 

Launched in 2023, the Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) Sea Safe program - jointly funded by FRDC and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), is committed to ensuring ‘Everybody comes home safe’. 

The program is intent on transforming the safety culture within the sector in commercial fishing and aquaculture and focuses on sharing and learning to drive behaviour change for the 17,000 people working in these sectors. 

Jo Marshall, SIA’s Wellbeing Programs Manager, stresses that the high injury and fatality rates – particularly in the wild catch sector – necessitate a cultural shift.  

“Safety is an investment, not a cost” - Jo Marshall 

“We must do everything to ensure our people and operations are the safest they can be,” Jo says.  

Jo Marshall
Pictured: Jo Marshall presenting at Seafood Directions 2024 about Sea Safe

 

Sea Safe aims to share knowledge and learnings from across the entire fisheries, aquaculture and seafood value chain – it's not just for commercial fishers as some may think. Safety at wharves, in processing rooms, on fish farms as well as on vessels, are all part of the picture. 

The program has 37 official advocates from a range of different businesses and more than 100 Friends of Sea Safe, i.e. people who have contributed or engaged with the program in some way. 

Integrating safety programs 

“Sea Safe is jointly funded by FRDC and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as a four-year initiative. It integrates earlier FRDC-funded safety initiatives including SeSafe and Fish Safe,” explains Jo. 

Sea Safe is part of Seafood Industry Australia’s National RD&E Seafood Industry Safety Initiative, which addresses research gaps in workplace health and safety in Australian fishing and aquaculture.  

A storytelling approach has been added to the Sea Safe program, designed to support peer-to-peer learning and culture change, it draws inspiration from the successful Stay Afloat mental health program which has had a significant impact on the sectors’ wellbeing.  

These stories, shared anonymously, cover a range of experiences - from how a CPAP machine was used to improve sleep-induced fatigue at work, to fishers surviving a ‘man overboard’ incident and how to prevent a similar event. By learning from each other’s close calls and triumphs, seafood professionals can work together to significantly reduce accidents and injuries. See an example here.

Building trust 

Sea Safe also encourages reporting of harm, accidents, incidents and fatalities in the seafood sector.  

“To achieve this, we're trialling different ways to improve trust in the system and understanding of the benefits of reporting.” Jo states 

Using Sense Maker, a technology platform, individuals can anonymously share safety stories – both positive and negative. 

To share your safety story or to get involved in becoming a seafood safety advocate, contact Jo Marshall at SIA, mobile +61 408 008 344 or email jo@seafoodindustryaustralia.com.au, or visit the Sea Safe website