Fishing Vessel Safety by Neil Peet/Merv Wiseman - CCFI

Fisheries and Oceans Canada 

Canadian Coast Guard 

(NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR REGION) 

FISHING VESSEL SAFETY 

Shrimp Vessel Design & Economics Forum 

Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador 

08 & 09 March 2004 

CCG Newfoundland & Labrador Region


Fishing Vessel Safety 

Background 

•A A serious trend in the 1990s which indicated 

an increasing number of SAR incidents in 

fishing vessels < 65 feet in length; 

•A A corresponding increase in WHSCC 

injuries, incidents and fatalities; 

•The evolution of a fishing activity involving 

non-traditional species located farther 

offshore; 



Background 

•Questions of a proper safety regime for 

small fishing vessels that included 

standards such as education, training, 

equipment, seaworthiness, seamanship and 

operator competency; 

•An issue of regulatory enforcement 

protocols (mandatory or voluntary), 

particularly for vessels < 15 GRT; 

•DFO Fish Management issues (vessel 

replacement). 



Fishing Vessel Safety Review 

•SAR Incidents doubled from 1993 – 1999; 

•WHSCC corresponding increase; 

•Less fishing effort for the same period 

(F/Vs decreased from 13,900 to 9,500); 

•SAR incidents occurring further from 

shore; 

•50 fatalities from 1993 to 2001; 

•Highest incident rate in 35 to 45 ft. class; 

•Most incidents in crab and ground fish. 



Contributing Factors 

•Same infrastructure working further from 

shore and prosecuting different species; 

•Harsh environmental factors; 

•Inadequate training & education regime; 

•A willingness by fisherpersons to take 

risks; 

•Improper loading; 

•Stability problems related to design 

modifications. 



Solutions 

• Formation of broad stakeholder group; 

• Discussions and consensus on issues; 

• Development of a strategic action plan; 

• Implementation in progress on: 

Education and training; 

Regulations and enforcement; 

Alerting, Detection and Response; 

Fish Management; 

Survival (R & D). 



Progress 

• Fish Harvesters course developed & 

delivered to approximately 8000 

fishers; 

• New regulations being developed under 

Canada Shipping Act reform; 

• Safety brochure developed & 

distributed; 

• Safety incorporated in integrated Fish 

Management (new replacement rules); 

• R & D work underway (Man Overboard 

Tag & MUN SafetyNet program). 



FISHING VESSEL SAR STATISTICS 

2003 



Total SAR Incidents - 415 

• 307 F/V incidents (73.25% of the total 

number of incidents); 

• 88% of F/V incidents were related to 

vessels < 65 feet; 

• 71% of F/V incidents were related to 

disabled vessels with mechanical 

failure, steering, fouled props, 

stabilizer problems, etc. 



Percentage of SAR Incidents by 

Vessel Class 

80% 

70% 

60% 

50% 

40% 

30% 

20% 

10% 

0% 

Commercial Fishing Government Other Pleasure 



SAR Incidents by Distance From 

Shore 

42% < 20 nm from shore 

20% occurred 20-50 nm 





45% 

40% 

35% 

30% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 

Percentage of Fishing Vessel SAR 

Incidents by Distance From Shore 

200nm 



SAR Incidents by Vessel Length 

• 8% in vessels < 25 ft. 

• 40% in vessels 25 – 35 ft. 

• 14% in vessels 35 – 45 ft. 

• 26% in vessels 45 – 65 ft. 

• 12% in vessels > 65 ft. 

88% of all fishing vessel incidents 

occurred in vessels < 65 ft. 



SAR Incidents by Length of Vessel 

40% 

35% 

30% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 

< 25 ft. 25 - 35 ft. 35 - 45 ft. 45 - 65 ft. >65 ft. 



SAR Incidents by Species Fished 

• 32% Crab Fishery 

• 6% Ground Fish 

• 24 % Seal Fishery 

• 12% Shrimp Fishery 

• 02% Lobster Fishery 

•8% Cod Fishery 

• 16% Other (HERRING, CAPLIN, TUNA, ETC.) 



SAR Incidents by Species Fished 

35% 

30% 

25% 

20% 

15% 

10% 

5% 

0% 

Crab 

Ground 

Fish 

Seal Shrimp Lobster Cod Other 



Fatalities & Vessel Losses 

•No fishing vessel fatalities were recorded in 

2003 in Newfoundland & Labrador Region; 

•13 fishing vessel fatalities were recorded in 

Canada in 2003; 

•A total of 5 fishing vessels (< 65 ft.) sank in 

Newfoundland & Labrador Region in 2003. 



FISHING VESSEL SAR 

INCIDENTS HAVE 

CONTINUED TO DECREASE 

IN THE NEWFOUNDLAND 

AND LABRADOR REGION 

SINCE WORK ON FISHING 

VESSEL SAFETY 

COMMENCED IN 1999. 



450 

400 

350 

300 

250 

200 

150 

100 

50 

0 

Number of Fishing Vessel SAR 

Incidents by Calendar Year 

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 



Vessel Safety Design 

Considerations 

•Harsh environment & distance offshore 

(many SAR incidents due to overtaking 

weather system on small size vesssels); 

•Stable platforms without reliance on 

auxiliary tools for stabilization & buoyancy 

(SAR incidents due to loss of stabilizers, 

defective flume tanks, etc.). 



Vessel Safety Design 

Considerations 

•Added detail to safety equipment and 

evacuation (safety equipment carriage often 

compromised for cargo capacity); 

•Adequate space for accommodations and 

overall crew comfort (crew fatigue leads to 

unsafe seamanship); 

•Adequate fuel capacity (many SAR 

incidents related to fuel shortages). 



Thank You! 

Neil Peet 

On Behalf of 

Merv Wiseman 

OPI – Fishing Vessel Safety 

Canadian Coast Guard

Fishing Vessel Safety by Neil Peet/Merv Wiseman - CCFI

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