Summer is now in full swing and there is no better time to take a commercial charter fishing boat, dolphin cruise, dive boats or a sunset cruise on a sailboat. However, with the outbreak of COVID-19, boat captains need to take additional measures to ensure their passengers stay safe.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) water-related activities are excellent ways to get the physical activity and health benefits needed for a healthy life. However, they are not risk-free. Currently, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people through recreational water. However, it is important to limit close contact to members outside your immediate family when visiting the coast and boarding any type of commercial fishing or for-hire vessel.
The Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium has developed COVID-19 guidelines to assist commercial fishing and for-hire vessels. They include the following guidelines:
- Passengers should maintain a 6-foot distance between themselves and others. Groups or families from the same household may gather but must maintain a 6-foot distance from other groups or individuals.
- All vessels should clean and disinfect all touchpoints between trips. For proper sanitation, CDC guidelines recommend the use of EPA-approved disinfectants, a mixture of 1/3 cup bleach to one gallon of water or cleansers consisting of a minimum of 70% alcohol.
- Rods, reels and other fishing gear and equipment should be sanitized between trips or before transfer to another guest.
- Nets or gaffs should be handled only by crew members.
- Scuba divers should be encouraged to bring their own gear to reduce the risk of contamination.
- Operator-provided dive gear should be properly sanitized between uses.
- Encourage guests to wear gloves and face masks.
- Advise passengers when making reservations if gloves and masks are required and if they should provide their own.
- Crew required to have close proximity with passengers should wear gloves and face masks.
- To prevent customers from gathering before boarding, encourage them to pre-pay with a credit card.
- If pre-payment is not possible, have hand sanitizer available for use after each transaction.
- Encourage guests to bring their own coolers, snacks and drinks to reduce the risk of transmission.
- Any vessel crew or passengers showing signs of illness should not be permitted to board.
- Consider implementing a pre-boarding procedure that includes having passengers remain in their car until called to board.
These guidelines are intended to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus and are not intended to replace existing local, state and federal laws, regulations and requirements.
Visit these sites to learn more about what you can do to stop the spread:
- CDC Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes
- CDC Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Cleaning and Disinfecting
- Alabama Department of Health Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
- Mississippi Department of Health Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19)
Find a PDF of "COVID-19 Guidelnes Commercial Fishing and For-Hire Vessels" here.