Sea and air resources to be deployed during opening of high-risk fishery

By Tina Comeau

THE VANGUARD

NovaNewsNow.com

Given the high-risk nature of the lobster fishery off southwestern Nova Scotia – particularly in the opening days of the season – once again resources will be deployed on the water and in the air to keep fishermen safe.

At the fall meeting of the Lobster Fishing Area (LFA) 34 Advisory Committee, Barry Smith, a high-risk fisheries officer with the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre in Halifax, outlined the safety plan for the fall fishery that is set to get started with trap dumping day on Monday, Nov. 26.

Both LFAs 33 and 34 open this day, which means coverage will be required for an area stretching from Burns Point, Digby County to Cole Harbour, Halifax County. Boats will leave their wharves at 6 a.m. in LFA 34 and at 7 a.m. in LFA 33.

Given the time of year, but more importantly the loaded-down vessels that will be heading out to the fishing grounds, there are dangers and problems associated with the opening of the season. Fortunately during the past few years, most problems have centred around mechanical breakdowns. But the potential for other problems makes this a high-risk occupation.

An example of the risks associated with making a living on the water was evident in the lobster fishery that opened off of southern New Brunswick this month, where a 54-year-old fisherman died after a lobster boat sank during the opening of the season.

This year’s safety plan off of southwestern N.S. isn’t much different than plans of past seasons.

Meteorological Services of Canada will provide long-range forecasts leading up to the opening day. This service will be available through the regular marine service, Coast Guard Radio Station Fundy (VAR) and Halifax (VCS).

Coast Guard vessels like the Edward Cornwallis and the Sir William will provide around-the-clock service. A half dozen Coast Guard cutters will be on standby throughout the region, and their geographical assignments can be switched in cases of emergencies. There will also be patrol vessels whose focus can change to search and rescue from enforcement should the need arise.

As well, Smith noted there are a number of auxiliary Coast Guard vessels in the region. But since many of these vessels will be involved in the fishery, and loaded down with traps themselves, he called this a “hit or miss” option.

A Hercules aircraft, a 149 Cormorant helicopter and a DFO King Air will be flying patrols of the entire fishing area and when they’re not in the air they will be on 30-minute standby. There are other secondary air resources that could also be used.

Dumping day is the day fishermen head out to the fishing grounds, in search of the prime spot to leave their traps in the water. They start hauling their traps and landing catches the next day, which begins one minute after midnight. (Note, in a story carried in the Vanguard, the incorrect times was noted for when fishermen can leave their wharves. As has always been the case, fishermen leave the wharf in LFA 34 at 6 a.m. and at 7 a.m. in LFA 33.)