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FFAW-Unifor Monitoring Updates on Overdue Vessel, Hopeful for Safe Return

July 19, 2024

Members and staff of FFAW-Unifor are holding the crew of the Elite Navigator, their families, and the communities on the Northeast Coast in our constant thoughts as Coast Guard efforts are ongoing for the overdue vessel.

There is significant concern as weather conditions have made search and rescue efforts in the area difficult, and the Union is monitoring for updates on the vessel’s status. Fish harvesting remains one of the most uniquely dangerous professions, and our members take tremendous risks for their livelihood. We are praying that all return home safely.

Dr. Erin Carruthers

Dr. Erin Carruthers is the Science Director and Senior Fisheries Scientist with the Fish, Food and Allied Workers Union (FFAW-Unifor), which is the labour union that represents the owner-operator fleet in Newfoundland and Labrador. The FFAW is committed to research and management that supports healthy oceans, fisheries, and coastal communities. Dr. Carruthers received her Ph. D. in Biology from Memorial University in 2011 followed by a postdoctoral fellowship with the Centre for Fisheries Ecosystems Research. Before coming to Newfoundland, Erin worked as a Research Biologist with Fisheries and Oceans Canada at the St. Andrews Biological Station. Her current research program is co-constructed with fish harvesters and includes research on coastal fishing communities, collaborative longline and trap surveys, and best practices for the avoidance, handling and release of unwanted catch.