Ocean fishing is one of the most dangerous occupations, as it is carried out under difficult conditions on a slippery, moving surface exposed to the elements. Researchers wanted to test the performance of the two most popular systems used in Québec to lessen roll, the transversal movement of vessels caused by swell or waves, and which pose significant risks in terms of the safety of mid-shore fishers. The researchers compared an increasingly popular technology, the hinged fin system, now found on 11% of the 292 vessels of over 15 gross tonnage, with that of paravanes, used on half of the fishing vessels inventoried.
To assess the performance of the two systems, the researchers carried out some 60 sea trials in the Baie de Chaleurs on two identical crabbers, one equipped with hinged fins and the other with paravanes. Using specialized measurement instruments, they investigated three aspects of concern to fishers and regulatory agencies: vessel stability, safety and comfort of the crew, and fuel costs.
“The conditions at sea during the trials were less extreme than those sometimes experienced by fishers, and the boats were not carrying cargo. Therefore, the data gathered did not allow us to prove that the hinged fin system is better or worse than the paravane system. However, as no negative indicators were found with the new hinged fin technology, we would anticipate that its use will expand in the fishing fleet, and even more so because we observed that this system is much easier to operate than paravanes and, with respect to safety, fishers on boats equipped with paravanes report many more accidents and incidents, both in terms of numbers and seriousness, than those whose vessels are equipped with hinged fins,” states Francis Coulombe, of the Centre d’innovation de l’aquaculture et des pêches du Québec (MERINOV), principal author of the study.
As a complement to their research, the scientists surveyed 60% of the 30 captains/owners whose fishing boats were equipped with hinged fins. The results revealed a very high degree of satisfaction for every aspect: ease of handling, comfort and safety of the crew and general performance at sea.
The results of the study, published by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), are available for free download at http://www.irsst.qc.ca/media/documents/PubIRSST/R-870.pdf
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Source
Jacques Millette
Public Affairs Officer
IRSST