Question Period Note: Safety-at-Sea: Sarah Anne Transportation Safety Board Investigation Report

Safety-at-Sea: Sarah Anne Transportation Safety Board Investigation Report

On May 25, 2020, four fish harvesters lost their lives when the fishing vessel, Sarah Anne, capsized off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is with great sympathy we remember those individuals.

The safety of fish harvesters is a top priority for Fisheries and Oceans Canada.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada has received the Transportation Safety Board’s recommendation to ensure all vessels must be registered with both Transport Canada and Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and takes it very seriously. I have asked departmental officials to assess options to further support safety at sea, based on the Transportation Safety Board recommendation.

My department is responsible for safety-at-sea in fisheries management regulations and policies, including actively promoting safety awareness and collaboration with all stakeholders.

Fisheries and Oceans Canada will continue to work with the Transportation Safety Board, Transport Canada, and all stakeholders to ensure safe, sustainable, and prosperous fisheries.

• On May 25, 2020 , the vessel Sarah Anne left St. Lawrence, Newfoundland and Labrador (Placentia Bay) to fish for crab.
• Same day there was a report to Marine Communications and Traffic Services as the vessel hadn’t return to port yet.
• The Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) was dispatched, and over the next 48-hours lead search and rescue operations where three (3) of the four (4) harvesters on board were confirmed to have lost their lives.
• The case was then transferred to the Royal Canadian Mountain Police (RCMP) as a missing persons at sea case for the fourth harvester on board.
• The CCG later confirmed that all four (4) harvesters on board lost their lives and the boat was presumed sunk.
• Transportation Safety Board (TSB) incident report found seven (7) of the ten (10) significant interconnected safety issues identified in their 2012 safety issues report into fishing safety within Canada had been found in the Sarah Anne incident.
• The Sarah Anne was 35 feet in length and less than 15 gross tons, subject to Transport Canada’s (TC) Fishing Vessel Safety Regulations for small vessels and did not require mandatory inspection (only voluntary). However, the Sarah Anne was not registered with TC.
• The findings found the likelihood of the vessel capsizing was due to stability issues.
• With regard to vessel registration between TC and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) requirements, TSB noticed disparities:
o The vessel was previously named Ann Lorie and while it was accurately registered with DFO, it was not registered with TC;
o All vessels must be registered with both TC and DFO accurately. The Report indicated there’s no formal mechanism that ensures accuracy for both departments;
o Newfoundland and Labrador in particular has registration disparity issues, with ~ 4000 vessels being affected;
o If fishing vessels aren’t registered with TC, there’s an increased risk that harvesters will not know, understand, or adhere to regulations aimed at increased fishing safety.
• TC registration is a mandatory requirement for fishing vessels under the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
o Registration increases awareness offering TC opportunity to provide the oversight and guidance to vessel owners.
o It also provides reliable and important data for the necessary safety authorities and organizations within the marine safety sphere.
• The linking of fishing licences and vessel registration / safety requirements is considered of significant importance.
• Increased accidents and loss of life in the fishing industry demonstrate a lack of awareness and/or compliance with safety requirement.
• Since fish harvesters are required to establish and maintain contact with DFO as a condition of their licence, the relationship should in-hand be used to promote those safety requirements.
• TSB Recommendation M22-01: the Department of Fisheries and Oceans require that any Canadian vessel that is used commercially to harvest marine resources have a current and accurate Transport Canada registration.

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