Fish Safe NS continues to grow and build supports for safety in the Nova Scotia fishing industry.
“For the past few months, Fish Safe NS has been working on member outreach with processors and aquaculture member companies, contacting them to offer support with their OHS (occupational health and safety) programs, and completing OHS audits is a service we provide to our members. We also help build these programs for our members, if needed. We have also partnered with Nova Scotia Works in Southwest Nova Scotia, as they already have good contact with many of our member companies. We plan to keep expanding this partnership across the province,” said Richard MacLean, executive director of Fish Safe NS.
“Many of the processing and aquaculture companies we have contacted have booked us to conduct a site visit to audit their OHS programs. Our harvesters are also booking Transport Canada safety drills on their vessels. We bring rafts and immersion suits, take them through emergency drills, and complete all the paperwork, so it is a worthwhile experience for the members. This year, we plan to conduct over 100 MOB (man overboard) drills, up from 60 last year,” MacLean added.
Fish Safe NS is offering free MOB drills for all fishing vessels in Nova Scotia, free of charge. All fishing vessels that complete their MOBs will be entered to win personal flotation devices (PFDs) and personal locator beacons (PLBs) for each captain and crew.
Fish Safe NS has also increased its rebate program and added new rebates in 2026. Members can now get a $500 rebate on the purchase of a life raft. A flexible subsidy of $300 for emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs), PLBs and automated external defibrillators (AEDs) (three per member) is also new for 2026.
The rebate for life raft inspections (one per boat, up to three boats) was also increased from $200 total to $500 each for three boats per member. Rebates of $200 are also available on the purchase of an immersion suit (one per member); immersion suit inspections (four per member up to $40) and another flexible subsidy up to $80 for CSA purchases, EPIRBs and AED batteries, and first aid kits (three per member).
“We do expect a large uptake of members using these,” said MacLean. “We have hundreds of members taking part each year, and from our outreach to members already, we have seen a substantial increase in members applying for rebates this year.”
Fish Safe NS is developing a mental health communications plan for members and families in 2026. “We plan to get this started in April. We received an OHS Trust Fund grant from The Nova Scotia Department of Labour, Skills and Immigration to help support this initiative,” said MacLean.
Fish Safe NS is also looking at opening up a satellite office in Southwestern Nova Scotia in 2026.
“We are looking at a small office and storage in the region. Nothing is final yet, but it’s an opportunity for a presence in the region and that will be a positive for Fish Safe NS and our members,” said MacLean.
Fish Safe NS now has over 1,500 member companies from the harvesters, processing and aquaculture sectors.
Workers Compensation rates continue to decrease for fish harvesters in 2026.
“Rates went from $3.65 per $100 payroll in 2025 to $3.21 per $100 payroll in 2026. Just for comparison, in 2021 they were $4.03 per $100,” said MacLean.
“Also, 90 per cent of our members are in a merit position with the Workers’ Compensation Board, so they pay less than the posted industry rate, and we are very proud of that. This is up from 82 per cent in 2020.”
