The Coast Guard-approved Sea Safety and Survival workshops meet the training requirements of the Commercial Fishing Safety Act to conduct drills. Coursework combines lecture and hands-on experience with the safety and survival equipment now required for commercial fishing vessels. Participants will learn about emergency procedures and be trained to develop appropriate emergency drills for their own vessels. Coursework also covers topics including:
- Putting on an immersion suit in 60 seconds
- Deploying a life raft
- Personal flotation devices (PFDs)
- Giving a mayday call
- Taking the HELP/huddle position
- Jumping from a vessel in the event of an emergency
- Extinguishing a fire
- Putting on a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)
- Starting a dewatering pump, wiring a station bill, and minimizing flooding
The Fishermen First Aid and Safety Training was built to help commercial fishermen prevent and treat injuries they may encounter at sea. It takes into account the small crews, common injuries, vessel environments, cold water, rough seas, and delayed emergency response times typical to Pacific Northwest fisheries. Successful completion of this course will fulfill the Coast Guard requirements for CPR and AED basic first aid.
Skills and Drills is a two-day program for people who want to gain hands-on experience performing tasks that may be required onboard a West Coast commercial fishing vessel. The first Skills and Drills training was held in 2025.
This course covers the following topics:
- Basics of welding
- Fiberglass repairs
- Vessel handling
- Navigation
- Maintenance of inboard and outboard engines
- Fishing gear repair (net mending and knot tying)
- Marine hydraulics
- Marine electronics
- Vessel cleaning and safe product handling
In December 2025, WSG held the first Washington Fishermen’s Conference. The two-day event brought together experienced commercial fishermen, those new to the industry, and those hoping to enter it, with something to offer everyone in the community. Session topics included “Intro to Washington Fisheries”, “Day in the Life of a Commercial Fisherman”, “Crew Contacts” and more.
