Six fish harvesters have died in the sinking of two vessels off Fleur de Lys, Newfoundland and Labrador and La Tabatière, Québec in the month of September.
On Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at 3:30 p.m., the RCMP received a report of a sunken 23-foot cod fishing vessel about one mile from the harbour in Fleur de Lys, N.L. by the Canadian Coast Guard. Local fishermen recovered one individual from the shoreline and two deceased crew members, 58-year-old Brian Walsh and 56-year-old Leonard Walsh.
The survivor of the sinking was assessed by emergency medical service members and was determined to not require further medical attention.
Search and rescue efforts by the Canadian Coast Guard and Canadian Armed Forces, as well as local residents, were conducted into the night of September 12. After searching an area of 502 nautical miles, the search for the missing man, reported to be Tim Shea, was turned into a recovery mission in conjunction between the RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard.
The RCMP is investigating the cause of the sinking alongside Transport Canada and WorkplaceNL.
On Monday, September 25, 2023, 37 kilometres off the coast La Tabatière, Québec, the 18-metre-long Silver Condor capsized in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, claiming the lives of 53-year-old Dean Lavallée, 65-year-old Yves Jones and 36-year-old Damon Etheridge from Blanc-Sablon, QC. Five crew members were recovered by a Canadian Armed Forces rescue helicopter, while an additional survivor was recovered by the Canadian Coast Guard.
According to the Mayor of Blanc-Sablon and cousin of Damon Etheridge, Andrew Etheridge, the crew of the Silver Condor were on their way back from fishing redfish when the vessel capsized. A distress call from the ship was issued at 2:30 a.m. on Monday. Rescuers arrived around four hours after the distress call was issued.
Investigations into the incident are being handled by a Québec coroner and the provincial labour board. So far, the investigation has identified poor weather conditions as a contributor to the capsizing.
