St. John’s, NL, 8 November 2022
The Association of Seafood Producers (ASP) is adding its voice to calls for a federal inquiry into fishing vessel safety, following on other recent calls after repeated tragedies in the province’s fishing industry.
“We have said this before, and it bears repeating, and it is timely in the context of this week’s calls for an inquiry by the family of the late Mark Russell, who lost his life tragically last year, along with his mate Joey Jenkins,” says Derek Butler, Executive Director of ASP.
Jeanette Russell of Mary’s Harbour, Mark’s mother, issued the call this week at a symposium on fishing safety in St. John’s.
“We support that call, and we have been on record in the past in support of that. It is a double tragedy when other sectors see inquiries, see commissions, and studies, but in the fishery, we somehow have come to accept the tragic losses of life, which need not be the case,” said Butler. “These are our colleagues, we work with them, we know their families. Things can be different, and an inquiry can add to the work done by the Senate Fisheries Committee, by the Transportation Safety Board, and by others who have said something needs to change.”
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For more information:
Renae Butler, (709) 726-3730