A Rhode Island lobsterman is suing the state in federal court after suffering serious injuries allegedly caused by a deteriorating marine bulkhead at a state-managed wharf in Galilee.

Peter Brodeur filed a 13-page complaint against the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (DEM) and the State of Rhode Island, asserting that the state failed to maintain the wharf’s infrastructure, leading to his fall and subsequent injuries. According to the lawsuit, on a day in May 2024, Brodeur was loading lobster traps onto his vessel when the marine bulkhead shifted, causing him to fall approximately eight feet onto the deck of his boat. He sustained injuries to his right shoulder, rotator cuff, elbow, bicep tendon, and lower back, along with extensive edema around his shoulder girdle.

The lawsuit also highlighted that the wharf was marked with signage directing the public to perform loading operations at the very location where Brodeur was injured. It further notes that, just three months after the incident, the state announced receiving $15 million in federal funds to repair the facility.

Brodeur’s legal team argues that the incident falls under federal admiralty jurisdiction, as the injuries occurred during maritime activities on navigable waters. The suit seeks compensation for medical expenses, lost income, and other damages resulting from the state’s alleged negligence.

The state of Rhode Island has seen a significant decline in the commercial fishing industry. With 2023 landings just over 1 million pounds, valued at approximately $10.7 million- a steep drop from the nearly 7 million pounds landed in 1999-2000.

Brodeur’s lawsuit brings attention to the broader implications of infrastructure neglect on the safety and viability of the state’s fishing industry.