Background

Fisheries Observers face unique workplace risks due to the isolated nature of their assignments at sea. Beyond physical dangers such as foul weather or gear malfunctions, research has found that Observers are at high risk for experiencing sexual assault and sexual harassment (SASH). A recent study estimates that while 10–17% of Observers formally report incidents in a given year, the actual prevalence may be closer to 33% of all Observers (Jeroue et al., 2025).

Observers are professionally trained biological technicians who collect data on U.S. commercial fishing and processing vessels as well as shoreside plants. They record what is caught and discarded, and they often live, work, and sleep alongside crew members in very confined and socially isolating spaces. These challenging conditions-including long shifts, seasickness, unpredictable weather, and limited privacy-create heightened physical, emotional, and psychological risks that increase their exposure to SASH incidents.

Recognizing this risk, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched its Workplace Violence Prevention and Response (WVPR) Program in 2018. In 2023, WVPR partnered with Soteria Solutions to develop and deliver the Strategic Resistance™ Training, a tailored program to help Fisheries Observers build practical skills to prevent and respond to SASH in their workplace.

Strategic Resistance™ is defined as the set of actions a person can use to avert, minimize, or deflect situations of harm directed at them. Importantly, the approach emphasizes doing only what feels safe, including choosing not to act if that is the safest option. Techniques can include humor, exaggeration, asking for clarification, expressing discomfort, confronting behavior directly, or seeking support from others. Extensive research (Senn et al., 2021; Crann et al., 2021; Radtke et al., 2020; Riquelme et al., 2020) demonstrates that strategic resistance training reduces self-blame, increases effective responses, improves coping and resilience, and decreases the likelihood of harm. It is most effective when paired with bystander intervention and culture-change approaches.The curriculum developed from Soteria Solutions is structured around seven core concepts: 

1. Defining Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment

2. Strategic Resistance Skills

3. Bystander Intervention Skills 

4. Considerations for Responding

5. Support Networks

6. Self-Care

7. Reporting Options

Implementation at the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP)

The curriculum was built collaboratively with Observer stakeholders and NOAA WVPR staff through an iterative process that included stakeholder interviews, pilot testing, and adjustments informed by evaluation feedback. We created a train-the-trainer model where we first created the Strategic Resistance Curriculum and then built the train-the-trainer framework to support teaching NOAA WVPR and Fisheries Observer staff members how to implement the curriculum. A virtual Strategic Resistance™ Toolkit was also developed so Observers could download resources to their phones and access them even without cell service.

In July 2023, NOAA WVPR invited representatives from Observer programs across the U.S. to attend a Train-the-Trainer Workshop hosted and led by Soteria Solutions. Trainers from the West Coast Groundfish Observer Program (WCGOP), Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, participated  in the Strategic Resistance™ curriculum and practiced facilitation strategies with support from Soteria Solutions’ Lead Trainers.

Following the workshop, WCGOP training staff began integrating the program into their existing three-week observer training course. This required:

• Reorganizing material to fit program needs,

• Replacing pre-recorded videos with live brainstorming activities,

• Adapting scenarios to reflect the realities of Observers’ work environments, and

• Incorporating the Strategic Resistance™ Toolkit into class activities to build familiarity and reinforce learning.

By December 2023, the WCGOP launched its first observer briefings with the full Strategic Resistance™ program. The training was then implemented for all new Observer trainings in 2024, and a condensed refresher course was created for returning Observers in 2025.

Program Impact

Early results from implementation have been promising:

• Increased engagement: Trainees reported feeling more comfortable discussing SASH and better prepared for potential challenges at sea.

• Culture shift among staff: Veteran Observers with 20+ years of experience began reframing their understanding of respect and workplace culture.

• Expanded facilitator capacity: Seven WCGOP staff are now trained facilitators, and 100% of staff (including analysts and program managers) have participated in at least one training session.

• Improved reporting and support: Staff observed a rise in requests for WVPR contact information and greater trust in debriefers and coordinators as resources for reporting incidents.

Evaluation findings from pilot and implementation phases indicate that the training helps decrease ambiguity in high-risk situations, empowers Observers to intervene or resist in ways that prioritize safety, and reinforces that responsibility for prevention does not lie with victims but is shared across the Observer community and organizational culture.

Looking Ahead

The Strategic Resistance™ Training has now extended beyond the WCGOP. NOAA WVPR has requested additional Train-the-Trainer sessions for observer programs nationwide, including the Southeast Fisheries Observer Program. Interest is also growing internationally, as Ms. Benedict’s presentation of the program at the International Fishery Observer and Monitoring Conference generated significant requests from observer communities worldwide.

The success with Strategic Resistance™ Training highlights the program’s adaptability for other high-risk or isolated workplaces, including:

• Offshore energy crews  

• Maritime and transportation industries

• Military units and first responders

• Remote research stations or field teams

• Healthcare professionals working overnight or in isolated environments

• Traveling sales or consulting staff

Conclusion

The collaboration between NOAA WVPR, WCGOP, and Soteria Solutions demonstrates how research-based training can be adapted for high-risk, isolated work environments. By equipping Fisheries Observers with strategic resistance and bystander intervention skills, the program not only enhances individual safety but also begins to shift organizational culture toward respect and accountability.

For employers, the ROI extends beyond safety; organizations benefit from:

• Reduced liability and reputational risk

• Improved staff retention and morale

• Increased productivity and job satisfaction

• Increased trust and engagement across teams

• Alignment with federal workplace violence prevention best practices

The Strategic Resistance™ Curriculum is unique in that it overcomes defensiveness among participants, avoids victim-blaming messages, incorporates identity and context into intervention strategies, and emphasizes community responsibility in preventing SASH. It is part of a growing body of evidence-based approaches that are adaptable to other high-risk workplaces where employees face isolation and limited protective factors. 

Discover how Strategic Resistance™ Training can help your organization reduce risk, build resilience among staff, and foster a safer, more respectful workplace culture. Contact Soteria Solutions today at soteriasolutions.org to explore a tailored solution for your workforce.

References 

• Jeroue L, Faunce C, Kingham A and Smith J (2025) Estimates of disclosure and victimization rates for fishery observers in the maritime workplace. Front. Mar. Sci. 11:1461655. doi: 10.3389/fmars.2024.1461655

• Senn, C.Y., Barata, P.B., Eliasziw, M., Hobden, K.L., Radtke, H.L., Thurston, W.E., & Newby-Clark, I. (2021). Sexual assault resistance education’s benefits for survivors of attempted and completed rape. Women & Therapy, 45(1), 47-73. DOI: 10.1080/02703149.2021.1971425

• Crann, SE, Senn, CY Radtke, HL Hobden, HL. (2021) “I Felt Powerful and Confident”: Women’s Use of What They Learned in Feminist Sexual Assault Resistance Education. Psychology of Women Quarterly 21, DOI: 10.1177/03616843211043948 

• Radtke, H. L., Barata, P. C., Senn, C. Y., Thurston, W. E., Hobden, K. L., Newby-Clark, I. R., & Eliasziw, M. (2020). Countering rape culture with resistance education. In D.  Crocker, J. Minaker, & A. Nelund (Eds.), Critical conversations about sexual violence on university campuses: New challenges, novel solutions (pp. 349-370). McGillQueen’s University Press. 

• Riquelme, A. R., Carretero-Dios, H., Megías, J. L., & Romero-Sánchez, M. (2020). Joking for Gender Equality: Subversive Humor Against Sexism Motivates Collective Action in Men and Women with Weaker Feminist Identity. Sex Roles.