High-pressure herring fishery becoming safer as new generation takes the helm

As crews scramble to capture their quotas during theherring fishery that launched Friday on Vancouver Island's east coast, a group that promotes training for fishermen says on-board safety appears to be improving.

One year ago, one crew member died when the Miss Cory capsized and sank off Comox.

The Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the incident.

Ryan Ford, the program manager for Fish Safe B.C., saidfishermen know it can be a dangerous way to make a living.

"People realize what happened last year," Ford said, referring to the Miss Cory sinking. "They know it happened in the years and the decades previous."

So, in the 10 days before the herring opening,seven Fish Safe safety advisors found plenty of interest infree training from thefishboat crewsat the docks in French Creekand Comox, as well as boats anchored offshore.

The advisers, who are themselves experienced fishermen, get frequent questionsabout the safety equipment thatis needed to comply with Transport Canada and WorkSaferules, although Fish Safe B.C. and its Safest Catchprogram are not part of those agencies or enforcement.

"Our real concern is being prepared by doing drills leading up to the fishery," Ford said. "Really being able to go through the mechanics of doing the drills, working with the safety equipment."

"That's the other part of things that we're able to do and the reception to that is very, very good."

Ford said safety is improving every year, and while fishermen of all ages are receptive, he sees a difference among workers in their 20s and 30s.

New generation more safety-conscious

"We're definitely seeing a lot of younger folks, both guys and gals out there on the water, sometimes for the first time," he said.

"I would say the younger contingent is definitely more safety oriented. They've comeup in a world where seatbelts are the norm, where we have drinking and driving counterattacks."

With files from CBC Radio One's On the Island with Gregor Craigie.