Canada Announces Funding for Commercial Fishing Safety

 

Canada’s Minister of Transport Lisa Raitt, joined by Members of Parliament from Atlantic Canada, announced a new Commercial Fishing Safety component of the Government of Canada's Boating Safety Contribution Program, a contribution funding program which aims to raise public awareness of boating safety.

 

Under this new component, up to $300,000 per year for the next three years will be available to support education and awareness initiatives that promote safe boating practices onboard small commercial fishing vessels across the country.

 

"Our investments through this new program will help enhance the lives and livelihoods of Canada's commercial fishers by helping to reduce loss of life, injuries and property damage due to accidents on the water," Raitt said.

 

Gail Shea, Canada’s Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, stated, "The Harper government is committed to ensuring the safety of our hard-working fishermen. That is why we are making unprecedented investments in our small craft harbors, which improves safety and working conditions for harbor users. I encourage our fishermen associations and other eligible groups to work on innovative projects so we further reduce accidents on small fishing vessels in Canada."

 

Not-for-profit, non-government organizations; public safety organizations and associations; educational institutions; healthcare institutions; organizations specializing in safety and medical research; enforcement services; and provincial, territorial and municipal governments are eligible to apply for funding under this component of the program.

 

Applications for funding under this component will be accepted until June 15, 2015.

 

More details about the program, the application process and the deadline for submissions, are available at www.tc.gc.ca/bscp.

 

Since 2009, through the Boating Safety Contribution Program, the Government of Canada has provided approximately $2.9 million for 54 recreational boating safety projects across Canada.

 

Commercial fishing is recognized by the International Maritime Organization as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. Between 2004 and 2013, the Transportation Safety Board reported a total of 72 fatalities from fishing vessel accidents in Canada.