Minister Encourages Safety As Lobster Traps Set, Op-ed

NOTE: The following is an op-ed piece from Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Sterling Belliveau.

As thousands throughout the province prepare for another season of lobstering, I want to urge them to keep safety top of mind.

Fishing generates thousands of good jobs in the province, but it is physically demanding and sometimes dangerous work. Boats are often loaded with traps and other gear. As the people working these boats know, space can be very limited on deck and crew need to work around the piled-high gear. It is crucial to ensure the load is stable and properly secured.

While I understand wearing personal flotation devices (PFD) may not always be comfortable for doing the job, the newer PFD vests are more comfortable, and wearing one is a good habit to get into, especially on Dumping Day. As a former lobster fisherman, safety was extremely important to me. As PFD technology improved, I requested that my crewmembers always wore one, especially on Dumping Day. It is not enough to have thousands of dollars of safety gear onboard. Sometimes things happen without warning and wearing a life vest can prevent a tragedy.

New technology has resulted in life preservers that are specially designed for fishing crews to wear while working. They are light-weight vests that automatically inflate and upright a person when they hit the water.

Nova Scotia has a long history of making a living on the water and as a result we've had our share of tragedies. One tragedy is one too many.

For more information on fishing safety initiatives, visit the Fisheries Safety Association website at www.fisheriessafety.ca.