People in the fishing industry in the province are set to participate in a workshop on fishing vessel design in Gander Wednesday, provincial Fisheries Minister Derrick Dalley announced today.
A news release notes the event will be facilitated by the Professional Fish Harvesters Certification Board along with $20,000 in funding from the provincial government. The workshop is specific to the under 40-foot vessel sector.
The designs of the fishing vessels used in the province vary, based on resource availability (species and quantity), type of fishing gear used, location of fishing grounds, length of fishing trips, regulatory requirements, and other factors.
There are approximately 3,800 enterprises in the harvesting sector of the Newfoundland and Labrador fishing industry, employing almost 11,000 professional fish harvesters. The enterprises consist of 2,972 (78 per cent) inshore vessels, less than 40 feet in length, and 861 (22 per cent) nearshore vessels, over 40 feet in length.
“The safety and comfort of crew members aboard fishing vessels is a greater consideration today than it has been in the past,” Dalley said.
“In that regard, the industry continues to improve the working environment for crew members through new vessel designs. Injuries and fatalities have been substantially reduced but work continues to further lessen these occurrences”
The workshop will include participants from the harvesting sector, the Fish, Food and Allied Workers’ union, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the National Research Council, Memorial University of Newfoundland, and the Marine Institute.
Sessions will focus on the need for new vessel design and construction; the key influencing factors in vessel design, such as safety, efficiency and resource availability; the types of designs needed; the role of government and other organizations; and the best course of action for the future relating to vessel design projects.
