P.E.I. fishermen have concerns about some proposed safety requirements

The P.E.I. Fishermen's Association has concerns about some of Transport Canada's proposed changes to safety requirements for commercial fishing vessels.

Transport Canada says these changes are designed to help prevent accidents and loss of life.

It notes 58 per cent of the fatalities are caused by stability-related accidents and 27 per cent are caused by falling overboard.

The proposed changes include new safety equipment requirements, introducing safe operating procedures for crews, andrequiring stability assessments for some existing and all new fishing vessels.

Eventually the plan is to update the construction requirements for fishing vessels.

The executive director of the P.E.I Fishermen's Association,Ian MacPherson, saidfishermen agree with some of the changes. But he saidthere is concern that others will cost too much, without actually reducing injury.

"There is some around some new equipment requirements that perhaps should not be applicable to all fleets," he said."We have been working very extensively with Transport Canada on some of the vessel stability recommendations and that file is moving forward. But you know there are some very good regulations that are in place that perhaps maybe they need to be enforced a little more."

"And we also feel that training is a big contributor to safety out there."

The Fishermen's Association has sent Transport Canada a formal response on the proposed changes. MacPhersonsaidother fishing organizations have done the same.

He ishoping there isstill room for dissuasion.