Transport Canada has announced plans to update the Canada Shipping Act to “promote the safety and economic performance of the marine industry,” including fishing vessels.
But fishermen all across Atlantic Canada maintain that the new provisions are short on common sense and long on cost — to the fishermen.
The update includes “improvements to provisions that protect and support crews, ensure passenger and vessel safety, and protect the marine environment from damage due to navigation and shipping activities.”
Criticism has ranged from the proposals themselves, which fishermen maintain could force them out of business, to the manner in which fishermen are being consulted.
Transport Canada, through the Canadian Marine Advisory Committee Secretariat, announced in March a meeting on the proposed regulations in Ottawa to be held May 2-5. That meeting call is symptomatic of what’s wrong with the plan, according to Melanie Sonnenberg, coordinator for the Eastern Fishermen’s Federation, which represents 20 independent fishermen’s organizations throughout the Maritimes and Gaspe, Quebec.
“The problem with having the May meeting in Ottawa, the other one is in November, is that it’s virtually impossible for fishermen here to make it,” Sonnenberg said. “Forgetting for the moment how expensive the trip is, fishermen are either in the midst of their season or about to start it. Transport Canada doesn’t seem to realize that we don’t just fish for lobster, or just for scallops; we’re fishing year-round.”
Transport Canada Atlantic Region spokesman Maurice Landry said every effort was being made to reach out to fishermen.
As for the proposed regulations, he said, “A lot has changed in the fisheries in past years. Now you have smaller vessels side-by-side with larger vessels offshore. Consequently, the concept of the new regulations is based on area of operation rather than on the size of the vessel. So small vessels will have to meet the same requirements as large vessels. After all, area of operation is a better indication of risk than vessel size.”
On Prince Edward Island, Craig Avery, who fishes out of Northport, said the proposed changes will mean a hardship for local fishermen. “Right now, we’re just barely treading above water. If these changes are imposed, we could sink.”
Avery added, “I think we can get these rules can be changed if we can bring enough pressure.”
Cost estimates among members of the Prince Edward Island Fishermen’s Association range as high as $25,000.
“Try $60,000 to $400,000,” said Sonnenberg of EFF. “That’s what I’ve been hearing from our members.” She added, “The problem here is that you can’t have a `one size fits all’ approach to regulation, and I don’t see how you can regulate common sense. It’s bad enough to be lumped together with other vessels, but Ottawa needs to recognize that we have different conditions here from, say, British Columbia, not to mention the fact that fresh water conditions are a lot different from salt water.”
An example of the complexity of the draft regulations can be found in a small section of the document.
“The authorized representative of new and existing fishing vessels of under 12 metres in length,” the regulations state, “shall ensure that an inclining experiment is conducted in accordance with this Regulation and Section 2 for vessels. Engaged in trawling, dragging or other similar means of fishing, where heavy gear is towed, or is engaged in purse seining; Transferred to Canadian registry; Operating beyond Group 3 voyages; Operating between 01 December and 31 March inclusive; in area where ice accretion is likely to occur; Having multiple decks; Where roll period tests results do not comply with the minimum criteria of Appendix 4; or Having anti-rolling tanks. In all other cases, the authorized representative shall ensure that the fishing vessel satisfies the simplified stability criteria set in Part B.”
Commented Sonnenberg, “So far the outreach sessions have created more confusion than clarity.”