Following Push by Senator Hassan, Coast Guard Lifts Mask Requirement for NH’s Commercial Fishermen

WASHINGTON – Following advocacy led by U.S. Senator Maggie Hassan, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Coast Guard recently announced updated guidance stating that commercial fishermen who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear a mask while outside on a commercial fishing vessel. Prior to this updated guidance, commercial fishermen were required to wear a mask while they work. The updated guidance comes after Senator Hassan and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) pushed the agencies to loosen restrictions for fully vaccinated commercial fishermen after hearing from fishermen in their states that wearing a mask while they work is unsafe.

“I am glad that the CDC and Coast Guard heeded our bipartisan call to remove the unnecessary mask requirement for fully vaccinated commercial fishermen,” Senator Hassan said. “I want to thank New Hampshire’s fishermen for their successful advocacy to remove this outdated requirement and for speaking out about the challenges they face. This updated guidance is welcome news for fishermen in New Hampshire and across the country, and I urge the CDC and Coast Guard to continue to update guidance based on the science.”

Senator Hassan is working across the aisle to support the fishing industry in New Hampshire. After hearing from fishermen at Yankee Fishermen’s Co-Op in Seabrook about the dangers of wearing a mask while they work, Senator Hassan raised these concerns directly with CDC Director Rochelle Walensky during a recent hearing.

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