12 February 2025
Director, Intergovernmental Affairs
Department of Fisheries and Oceans
In June 2024, 2 commercial fishing vessel accidents occurred on Lake Winnipeg, Manitoba, resulting in 4 fatalities. The first occurrence took place on 17 June near Norway House (M24P0139) and the second occurrence took place on 27 June near Grand Rapids (M24P0140). No distress call was received in either occurrence. Both vessels were carrying life jackets, but the fish harvesters were not wearing them. Neither vessel was registered with Transport Canada (TC) as a commercial vessel. Both vessels held fishing licences and regularly sold their fish to the FFMC.
In accordance with the TSB Occurrence Classification Policy, the circumstances of these occurrences were assessed and classified as Class 5 occurrences. Consequently, TSB activity was limited to the collection of data, which has been recorded for safety analysis, statistical reporting, and archival purposes. The following paragraphs contain safety-related information derived during the assessment of these occurrences.
Information obtained by the TSB while investigating these 2 occurrences found that there were approximately 1200 licensed fish harvesters in Manitoba as of 2022,Fisheries and Oceans Canada, “Fishing-Related Employment by Industry and Province, 2019–2022,” accessible at https://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/stats/cfs-spc/tab/cfs-spc-tab2-eng.htm (last accessed on 03 December 2024). but only 190 registered fishing vessels in the province as of 2024.Search of Transport Canada Vessel Registration Query System at 03 December 2024 (available at https://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/4/vrqs-srib/eng/vessel-registrations/search-results?DataSource=AllRegisteredVessels&ExcludeClosedVessels=True&ExcludeSuspendedVessels=True&VesselType=090&Province=MB, last accessed on 03 December 2024). Following a similar finding in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2022, the TSB issued recommendation M22-01 to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and TC, which has resulted in increased cooperation between these departments to advance fishing safety.
The TSB also found that the Government of Canada is in the process of divesting FFMC, which is a Crown corporation. During the divestiture process, there is an opportunity for DFO to transfer information about safety to the new owners of the FFMC. Collaboration between the eventual owners of the FFMC and the various agencies involved in fishing and fishing safety, including the Manitoba Ministry of Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources, DFO, and TC, could be an opportunity to advance fish harvester safety, particularly in remote communities such as Norway House and Grand Rapids.
The foregoing is provided for whatever follow-up action is deemed appropriate. The TSB would appreciate being advised of any action that is taken in this regard. An investigator may follow up with you at a later date. As the identified safety issue associated with these occurrences has been brought to your attention and consideration, it is anticipated that an investigation report will not be issued.
Original signed by
Lija Bickis
Acting Director, Marine Investigations
Transportation Safety Board of Canada