The following statement was issued today by the Honourable Elvis Loveless, Minister of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture:

I wish to extend my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the crew members of the Chief William Saulis lost at sea earlier this week while fishing in the Bay of Fundy, including Michael Drake from the community of Fortune.

The tight knit fishing communities of Newfoundland and Labrador and Nova Scotia share a strong bond that extends across generations. The people of our province and our neighbouring Nova Scotians are all grieving as a result of this untimely tragedy.

The brave men and women who devote their lives to working at sea, do so by putting their lives at risk each and every time they head to the fishing grounds. Unfortunately, events such as this tragic loss offer a stark reminder of the sacrifices our fishers make to support their families.

I also extend a special thank you to the Canadian Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, and all those who support the search and recovery efforts during this difficult time.

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Media contact
Craig Renouf
Fisheries and Land Resources
709-637-2923, 640-6922
craigrenouf@gov.nl.ca