The Fishing Vessel Safety Designate (FVSD) Program delivered by the NL Fish Harvester Safety Association is now LIVE online! Not only is the Program FREE for participants, but the first 1,000 fish harvesters to complete the training will receive a Personal Locator Beacon valued at $500! These PLBs have been made available in partnership by the FFAW, FRC, PFHCB, and NLFHSA.
Full details on the FVSD Program and registration are available the NLFHSA website: https://www.nlfhsa.com/fvsd
Developed in collaboration with hundreds of fish harvesters across Newfoundland and Labrador, the FVSD Program is relevant to fishing vessels and crew of all sizes.
🛟OTHER IMPORTANT PROGRAM POINTS 🛟 – The Program consists of 12 modules that participants can move through at their own pace – Modules are fully accessible 24/7 on the device of your choice – computer, tablet, or cell phone – Participants are tested at the end of each module and a score of 80%+ is needed to complete BUT participants can retake module tests – Earn 5 land-based education credits with completion – The NLFHSA has established a service desk for inquiries and assistance at their office
DID YOU KNOW that once registered, PLBs can also be used as a safety device on land, for example, taken on back country expeditions where cell phone service is limited!
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.
