Reports on how to handle covid-19 in fishing operations have been spreading since the virus reached U.S. shores — from onboard management to processing protocol.

The Coast Guard issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin on Friday, March 13, reminding operators and owners that "the illness of persons on board a vessel must be reported to both the Coast Guard and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."

The operator "of a ship destined for a U.S. port shall report immediately to the quarantine station at or nearest the port at which the ship will arrive, the occurrence, on board, of any death or any ill person among passengers or crew (including those who have disembarked or have been removed) during the 15-day period preceding the date of expected arrival or during the period since departure from a U.S. port (whichever period of time is shorter)."

But what can you do before you see signs of illness?

Dr. Ann Jarris, CEO Discovery Health MD

National Fisherman is proud to host the webinar "Developing Vessel Procedures and Performing Symptomatic Crew Assessment in the Midst of Covid-19," with Dr. Ann Jarris, co-founder and CEO for Discovery Health MD.

In this webinar, Dr. Jarris will explore a range of procedures intended to help guide vessel owners and operators to develop onboard management plans in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic.

Discovery Health has drafted a flow chart for assessing potential covid-19 symptoms of onboard crew, as well as a comprehensive companion document to guide vessel owners and operators in assessing risk, managing potential outbreaks and isolation, educating crew and identifying symptomatic crew members. (Follow DiscoveryHealthMD.com for updates to these documents.)

Please join us on Wednesday, April 22, at 11 a.m. EDT for more on this vital topic as we all learn to navigate the changes covid-19 has brought to the fishing and wider commercial marine industries.