British Columbia to educate fishermen about safety

Fish Safe BC will receive up to $900,000 over three years to expand a successful safety education program based in British Columbia, the "Safest Catch" program.

This program uses fishermen to train other fishermen about relevant regulatory requirements and how to make safety an integral part of their commercial fishing business. They also provide fishermen with tools and knowledge needed to create their own documented vessel-specific safety management system.

With this funding, Fish Safe BC plans to work closely with the commercial fishing community to expand the program into Quebec and the Maritimes.

Fish Safe BC is a not-for-profit organization that was established in 2004 and operates as the British Columbia commercial fishing industry's designated health and safety association. ■