ON DECK
Dock Talk
Paid to sleep By Rebecca Weil
leep deprivation has been a widely recognized and chronic problem in commercial fishing. Yet very little research has been done on the effects of sleep debt on fishermen, or on how to manage it. “With so much news about the negative effects of sleep deprivation, fishermen have told us they also wonder how work will impact their cognitive ability as they get older,” said Julie Sorensen, director of the Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety. The center is embarking on a two-year project with fishermen in Alaska, Oregon and the Northeast. The project — Assessments of Sleep Deprivation and Associated Health and Cognitive Impacts in Commercial Fishermen — aims to better understand fishermen’s concerns regarding sleep patterns and the possible effects of sleep deprivation on their health and safety.
NEC
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Robert Browning and the F/V Lady Lee out of Garibaldi, Ore.
The Northeast Center for Occupational Health and Safety, known for its Lifejackets for Lobstermen project, is also developing a podcast for fishermen, to share timely resources about health and sleep. Many fishermen have told us they are curious about energy drinks, naps, their diet, and other areas that impact their sleep and health. We are hoping a podcast series will provide information in timely manner to quickly respond to the
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