Some Positive News for Capelin, But Stock Still in Critical Zone
Capelin stocks in Newfoundland and Labrador have improved since 2021, but are nowhere near where they need to be.
While delivering its latest technical briefing on capelin stocks, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) announced a new limit reference point (LRP) for capelin stocks, indicating their biomass needs to be over 640 kilotonnes (kt). This LRP is based on cod stocks and how much available capelin they would need to sustain a healthy population.
“We’re considering ...
SFA 4 Makes a Strong Showing in 2022, But DFO Lacks a Full Picture
The Department of Fisheries and Oceans’ (DFO) Northern shrimp stock assessment for 2022 was only able to focus on shrimp fishing area (SFA) 4, but found the stocks there to be healthy.
“DFO has focused its effort on the comparative fishing. That was necessary to ensure continuity of the time series, so there was no survey for SFA 5 and 6,” said Northern shrimp lead Nicolas Le Corre.
Within SFA 4, the shrimp was deemed to be in the “healthy zone” in the precautionary approach ...
New CCGS Life Boat in Clark’s Harbour “Much More Capable Platform”
The Canadian Coast Guard station in Clark’s Harbour has a new search and rescue life boat that is larger and faster than its predecessor.
The station took delivery of the CCGS Chedabucto Bay earlier this year, replacing the 28-year-old CCGS Clark’s Harbour.
The CCGS Chedabucto Bay is a 60-foot Bay Class search and rescue lifeboat with a maximum speed of 26 knots, equipped with advanced electronics and equipment, and self-righting capability. Launched in 1995, the CCGS Clark’s ...
When Mother Nature Turns Up the Volume – SAR Veterans Recount Search and Rescue Stories
From rescues in hurricane-force winds, to man-overboard situations, Sergeant Norm Penny and Captain Steve MacFadgen have spent thousands of hours performing search and rescue (SAR) at sea and have their fair share of stories to tell and advice to share.
Penny joined the military in 1993 and served multiple tours overseas, after which he came across his first SAR technician at the Canadian Forces Leadership and Recruit School in 2000.
“I didn’t know what that person was, so I inquired ...
OSSC: Preparing for the Unexpected at Sea
The Offshore Safety and Survival Centre (OSSC), located in Foxtrap, Newfoundland and Labrador, offers a variety of safety and emergency response courses for industries like offshore oil and gas, marine transportation as well as fishing.
The OSSC was established after the Ocean Ranger disaster, where 84 crew members lost their lives after the offshore oil platform sank in 1982 off the Grand Banks of Newfoundland. Research by the Canadian Royal Commission found that the crew lacked proper ...
Collaborating and Educating With Fish Safe NS
Linda Corkum, Fish Safe NS’s newest Executive Director, recently shared her priorities for the organization in 2023.
Fish Safe NS is a safety organization with a mission “To inspire a strong safety culture for the N.S. seafood industry through collaboration, education and promotion.”
Coming into her new job, she had to think about how to best collaborate, educate and promote safety in the industry.
“I was trying to kick off the new year, if you will, with thinking about the ...
Safety Training for Fish Harvesters, by Fish Harvesters
As part of a five-year action plan, the Newfoundland and Labrador Fish Harvesting Safety Association (NL-FHSA) is rolling out safety designate training for fish harvesters.
“One of the things when we developed our strategic plan was fishing vessel safety designate training,” said NL-FHSA Executive Director Brenda Greenslade.
“The training has been approved and we’re in the process of making it available to harvesters. So, the first thing we have to do is test it because it’s ...
Icebreaking in the Atlantic – Successes, Challenges and Words of Caution
Brad Durnford left Bay D’Espoir, Newfoundland and Labrador, when he was 17 and started at the Canadian Coast Guard College. Durnford has been with the Coast Guard now for 29 years.
He’s the ice superintendent for the Atlantic Region, which encompasses Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.), Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and half of the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
From December to June, icebreakers and hovercrafts operate along Canada’s east coast from Newfound...
Miss Ally Tragedy Remembered
A decade has passed since the Miss Ally and her crew of five young fishermen from Shelburne County were lost to the sea during a bitter, winter North Atlantic storm.
The Miss Ally was on her way from a halibut fishing trip on Feb. 17, 2013 when it ran into trouble approximately 120 kilometres southeast of Liverpool. Waves higher than 10 metres and hurricane-force winds were battering the 45-foot fishing vessel. The emergency locator beacon activated at 11:06 p.m. The Canadian Coast Guard ...
