Government of Canada strengthens commercial fishing safety with funding to Fish Safe BC
Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport, has announced funding for Fish Safe BC to support an education and awareness initiative that promotes safe boating practices on board small commercial fishing vessels across the country.
Fish Safe BC will receive up to $900,000 over three years to expand a successful safety education program based in British Columbia, the "Safest Catch" program. This program uses fishermen to train other fishermen about relevant regulatory requirements and how to make safety an integral part of their commercial fishing business. They also provide fishermen with tools and knowledge needed to create their own documented vessel-specific safety management system.
With this funding, Fish Safe BC plans to work closely with the commercial fishing community to expand the program into Quebec and the Maritimes.
The Government of Canada's financial contribution to Fish Safe BC comes from the Commercial Fishing Safety Component of Transport Canada's Boating Safety Contribution Program (BSCP).
The BSCP is a contribution funding program which aims to raise public awareness of boating safety by advancing knowledge of boating safety issues, practices and behaviours through enhanced awareness and education initiative and projects. The Program has two components – one geared towards safe boating practices on board small commercial fishing vessels and the other focussed on recreational boating.
Commercial fishing is recognized by the International Maritime Organization as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Between 2004 and 2013, the Transportation Safety Board of Canada reported a total of 72 fatalities from fishing vessel accidents in Canada.
Fish Safe BC is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 2004 and operates as the British Columbia commercial fishing industry's designated health and safety association.