Goal

Objectives (specific initiatives)

Education and Mentoring

Objectives:

1. Continue the stability course.
2. Use the stability course delivery model to develop a safety drill course (and other courses as are deemed to be important).
   
3. Apply the Fish Safe education model (practical, pragmatic, adult-education) to Transport Canada courses.

Regulatory & Policy Reform

Objectives:

1. Link assessments to vessels.
2. Accountability throughout the safety process.
3. Address unsafe fishing practices in fishing plans.

Comments:

WCB says Industry, not WCB, should lead the process to reform the assessment system. Industry consensus, with a recommendation on reform, should be well received by WCB.

To determine: whether assessment reform requires legislative or policy amendment; WCB will get a legal opinion on this.

Re – safety/fishing plans - most are policy or operational issues (IFMP), not regulatory. An overall assessment of which policies/plans impact safety is required.

Should safety be explicitly addressed in the new Fisheries Act?

Put safety on the agenda for licensing/fishery management review processes.

Communication

Objectives:

1. Establish a safety ombudsman whose role is to be the central point of communication.
2. Website – improve on the current website to increase its usefulness.
3. Fish Safe Advisory Committee – formalize, review roles and how it can help.

Principles:
Communication is key to developing a fishing safety culture.

Individuals must be informed in order to take ownership of safety. Need to develop effective means of communicating safety within fishing industry and between bodies involved in safety.

Coordination between/within regulatory agencies and industry

Objectives:

1. Expand framework of MOU (coordination of activities between agencies).
2. Interpret practical instructions to ensure fishing industry safety.
3. Discuss regulatory issues and how reporting will work (process, program development, partnerships).
4. Coordinate and gain input on how to manage fisheries issues, hazards, and regulatory requirements.
5. Create safety mandate through each organization; each will deal with safety in their perspective, and will share with all.
6. Communicate MOU to industry.
7. Develop coordinated fishery management plans with industry.

Principles:
Ensure effective, efficient coordination (communication, programs, etc) among the different regulatory agencies and the commercial fishing industry.

Establish protocols for safety responsibilities to reduce overlap and eliminate regulatory conflict for fishermen.

Funding

Objective:

• Specific proposals and actions with respect to funding to be developed for all of the above.

Principles:
Safety programs require funding. Any expansion of safety programs and initiatives will require further funding, since current funding is fully utilized. All goals/objectives cited in this workshop require a new dedication of funding if they are to be achieved.