Annual award and Certificate of honour
By awarding annual prizes and honorable mentions, the CPSBPQ wishes to highlight good practices, best work methods, efforts or any other initiative relating to safety in commercial fisheries. The members of the board of directors are responsible for studying all the candidacies submitted.
Find out who our winners have been since 2013!
2020 Winner
Darrell Ransom
From left to right: Michel Castonguay (CNESST, vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Marc Doucet (president of the CPSBPQ), Darrell Ransom (2020 winner), Robert Fecteau (TCMSS, vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
First, we shall explain what familiarization is. It is an obligation, for masters and authorized representatives of vessels, which entered into force with the Canada Shipping Act, 2001.
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This regulatory requirement is to make sure that every person boarding a vessel receive minimum training about the vessel and its safety equipment and is familiar with contingency procedures. The role of this exercise is to ensure that the new person on board is able to react in case of emergency without endangers its life and without being a nuisance for the crew of the vessel.
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The familiarization is not only a legal obligation, but also a moral duty. It is an act of respect, of concern for others. “You come on my vessel and I take care of you”.
In its continuous search for fishermen with standing out practices, the board of directors of the CPSBPQ surveyed at-sea observers to know which fisherman, according to them, has the best practices in terms of familiarization. Unanimously, they named Mr. Darrell Ransom, master of the M/V “Andrea Dale”.
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Mr. Ransom ensures that each new person on board his vessel receives a familiarization in due form before leaving. As a matter of fact, before starting his engine, he gives the newcomer safety instructions by using a checklist. He then ensures that his expectations and the role of the newcomer in case of emergency are well known and understood. Besides, the newcomer should recognize it by signing the vessel’s register.
The CPSBPQ is convinced that Mr. Darrell Ransom, by its best familiarization practices, demonstrates a sense of responsibility and care for the safety of others, but also that he contributes by his example to the promotion of a real safety culture in the fisheries of Quebec.
2020 Certificates of Honour
M/V Nautical Champion Crew
Vincent Dupuis, Benoît Cotton, Gilles Fortin, Steeve Cloutier,
Richard Tremblay, Réjean Dupuis, Mathieu Lacasse
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​​M/V Océanos Crew
Marc-Anthony Dufresne, Marc-Gabriel Sylvestre Bond, Eddie Cotton, Frédéric Côté, André Dupuis
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M/V L'intrépide No. 3 Crew
Keven Dunn, Matthieu Cotton, Dave Cotton, Daniel Tapp
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With this special acknowledgement, the CPSBPQ wants to highlight the best safety practises of the M/V “Nautical Champion” crew.
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Over the years, the vessel’s crew stood out by its knowledge of the contingency procedures, by its appropriate use of the individual protective equipment and by its safety initiatives. Because it constantly exceeds the requirements, this crew is a good example for all the fishers.
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The CPSBPQ is convinced that the work of this crew actively contribute to the development of a safety culture in the Quebec fishing industry. Congratulations!
By this special acknowledgement, the CPSBPQ wants to highlight the exemplary actions of the M/V “Océanos” crew following violent explosion in the vessel’s engine room in June 2019.
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During this emergency, the crew kept its composure and react in a fair manner, while taking the right measures and decisions. The master and the crew members demonstrated that they have an excellent understanding of the vessel and its safety systems, and that they mastered their contingency procedures.
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The CPSBPQ is convinced that without their quick and adequate response, this accident would have become a tragedy. Congratulations!
With this special acknowledgement, the CPSBPQ wants to highlight the best safety practises of the M/V “L’Intrépide No.3” crew.
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Over the years, the vessel’s crew stood out by its knowledge of the contingency procedures, by its appropriate use of the individual protective equipment and by its safety initiatives. Because it constantly exceeds the requirements, this crew is a good example for all the fishers.
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The CPSBPQ is convinced that the work of this crew actively contribute to the development of a safety culture in the Quebec fishing industry. Congratulations!
From left to right: Robert Fecteau (vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
Nautical Champion crew: Vincent Dupuis (master), Steeve Cloutier, Benoît Cotton, Gilles Fortin, Mathieu Lacasse, Richard Tremblay
Marc Doucet (president of the CPSBPQ), Michel Castonguay (vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
From left to right: Michel Castonguay (vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Marc-Gabriel Sylvestre Bond (crew member, Océanos), Pierre-Marc Dufresne (master, Océanos), Marc Doucet (president of the CPSBPQ), Robert Fecteau (vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
From left to right: Michel Castonguay (vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Marjorie Chrétien (administrator of the CPSBPQ), Eddie Cotton (crew member, Océanos), Frédéric Côté (crew member, Océanos), Marc-Anthony Dufresne (crew member, Océanos), Robert Fecteau (vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Pierre-Marc Dufresne (master, Océanos)
From left to right: Michel Castonguay (vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Marjorie Chrétien (administrator of the CPSBPQ), Keven Dunn (crew member, L’Intrépide No.3), Dave Cotton (master, L’Intrépide No.3), Matthieu Cotton (crew member, L’Intrépide No.3), Daniel Tapp (crew member, L’Intrépide No.3), Robert Fecteau (vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
2019 Winner
Lucie Dérosby
Lucie Dérosby, Quiétude Maritime
Through this 2019 annual award, the Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec (CPSBPQ) wants to highlight the outstanding safety initiative, concerning fishing vessels, of Ms. Lucie Dérosby and her business, Quiétude maritime, the only one of this kind in the Province of Quebec.
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Some years ago, Lucie Dérosby, a professional fisherwoman trained at was responsible, in the context of her work, to structure the response of the crew to emergencies that could happen at sea. The practical exercises she was carrying quickly drew the attention of the other fishermen on the North Shore and capture their interest. They quickly ask for her assistance to benefit from her expertise to properly train their crew about emergency measures. The growing demand for her services brought Lucie to start her own business in 2018. This way, she could help a greater proportion of the fishermen who wish to implement a system of management of the safety on their vessel. She now assist in this task many masters and owners on the entire maritime Quebec territory.
Drawing on its own fisherwoman experience, Lucie herself knows that it is not always simple for fishermen to comply with the Transport Canada new requirement regarding the emergency procedures and mostly to put these into practice. With her business, she gave herself the mission to support the fishermen—through practice rather than theory—in putting in place simple and effective procedures, understood by all the people aboard.
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The CPSBPQ is convinced that Ms. Lucie Dérosby is contributing not only to improve the efficiency of the crews in case of emergency, but that she is also participating, by her involvement, in the promotion of a real safety culture within the fishery industry in Quebec.
2018 Winner
Line Arsenault
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec wants to highlight the remarkable work of Mrs. Line Arseneault to promote the development of a safety culture in the fishing industry.
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Certified fourth class fishing master and having completed a DVS in professional fishing, Mrs. Arseneault has been teaching at École des pêches et de l'aquaculture du Québec for more than 10 years and have been a fisher for almost 15 years.
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Advocate for a healthy safety culture in the fishing industry, Mrs. Arseneault succeed, in her short fisher and teacher career, in empowering her students and her peers and in increasing their awareness about the importance of respecting the laws and regulations and applying safe working and navigation practises. In applying best safety practices when she is working as a professional fisherwoman, she practises what she preaches.
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As a teacher in the maritime regions of the Gaspé Peninsula, the North Shore and the Lower North Shore, she passed on her theoretical and practical knowledge based on an ideology promoting safety at sea. She thus enabled a large number of fishers and fisher helpers, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to get, on one side, their certificate of fishing master and, on the other side, to be more aware and informed about the importance to apply safe behaviours at all time during fishing activities.
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Excellent educator, Mrs. Arseneault devotes a passion for teaching and endeavour the work of transmitting, to the young and not so young, her practical and theoretical knowledge of the fisher’s profession. She is well respected by fishers and by her teacher colleagues. For many of them, she is a teaching model as well as a model of safe fishing.
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It is important to mention that Mrs. Arseneault wrote the Safety Management System (SMS) used by the teachers of École des pêches et de l'aquaculture du Québec during the fourth class fishing vessel master training program. It was thus identified by many as an excellent SMS template for masters, owners and deckhands.
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The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec wants to acknowledge the important contribution of Mrs. Line Arseneault to the development of a healthy safety culture in the commercial fishing industry by presenting her the 2018 annual award.
2017 Winner
Yvan Cloutier
From left to right: Yvan Cloutier (2017 winner), Marc Doucet (President of the CPSBPQ)
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec (CPSBPQ) wants to highlight the outstanding leadership and best safety practises of Mr. Yvan Cloutier by presenting him the 2017 annual award.
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Mr. Cloutier, crab fisher on the North Shore, always cared for the safety of his crew and his vessel. For several years already, he requires that all his crew member take part in practical emergency exercise at the beginning of each fishing season. During the vessel’s abandonment simulation, all of them must don their immersion suits and jump into the water. This exercise, enabling everybody to familiarize themselves with equipment and procedures, also allow them to practise man overboard recovery.
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When Transport Canada required the fishing vessel owners to set safe operation principles and emergency procedures, Mr. Cloutier didn’t hesitate and did his homework. With his crew, he very seriously developed procedures and a plan for the familiarization to equipment and emergency measures.
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The CPSBPQ is convinced that Mr. Yvan Cloutier, through his outstanding leadership and the best practices he implemented, contributed greatly to save the life of the crew member of his vessel, the “Simon Bernard”, when it sank, in June 2016, after an intense fire. Throughout this incident, the vessel was evacuated in an orderly and efficient manner, avoiding a tragedy and allowing everybody to go home safe and sound.
2016 Winner
Vincent Dupuis
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec wants to highlight the excellent work of Mr. Vincent Dupuis in terms of occupational health and safety on board his vessel, the “Nautical Champion”.
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Although already concerned to give his crew a safe working environment, Mr. Dupuis didn’t hesitate, over the past few years, to implement new prevention measures on board his shrimper to reduce the risk of injuries and occupational accidents.
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The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec acknowledges that Mr. Vincent Dupuis, by his proactive leadership in occupational health and safety, is an inspiration for Quebec fishers.
From left to right: Robert Fecteau (Vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Vincent Dupuis (2016 Winner)
2015 Winner
Mario Déraspe
From left to right: Robert Fecteau (Vice-president of the CPSBPQ), Mario Déraspe (2015 winner), Michel Castonguay (Vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec would like to acknowledge the remarkable work of Mr. Mario Déraspe as a spokesperson for fishermen in the Îles-de-la-Madeleine. Through his actions and commitment to safeguarding the interests of professional fishermen in various forums and committees, he has helped promote and develop a safety culture within the fishing industry.
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Through his good practices as a lobster fisherman and his work as president of the Association des pêcheurs propriétaires des Îles-de-la-Madeleine, Mr. Déraspe encourages other fishermen in his community and throughout Quebec to comply with regulations and raises awareness about the importance of responsible behaviours in improving safety at sea.
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His active participation in the research program designed to identify the risks of falling overboard lobster boats and to explore possible solutions to help prevent this type of accident, as well as his continued support of the recognition and promotion of professionalization of the trades of fisherman and fisherman's helper, are just a few examples of how much his leadership has contributed to the establishment of effective collaboration between various parties based on mutual understanding and respect.
2014 Winner
Dave Cotton
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec would like to acknowledge the outstanding work done by Mr. Dave Cotton in promoting the development of a culture of safety in the fishing industry.
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As a professional fisherman, Mr. Cotton has helped improve safety at sea by raising awareness within the Québec fishing community of the importance of adopting responsible behaviours, in no small part thanks to his best practices in safety management. In addition, as a teacher, he both passionately and effectively communicates his professional enthusiasm and concern for safe navigational and operational practices
From left to right: Daniel Lefebvre, Dave Cotton (2014 winner), Robert Fecteau
(vice-president of the CPSBPQ)
2013 Winner
Management Committee for the
commercial fishing organization of the
Maliseet of Viger First Nation
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec commends the Management Committee for the commercial fishing organization of the Maliseet of Viger First Nation for their hard work and effort put into the implementation of a mentoring program for Aboriginal Fisheries as well as the development of a preventive maintenance program for the community fishing fleet. The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec acknowledges these exemplary initiatives that contribute to the development of a safety culture.
From left to right: André Audet, Robert Fecteau et Sébastien Thibeault
2013 Certificate of honour
Floran Côté
The Comité permanent sur la sécurité des bateaux de pêche du Québec congratulates Mr. Floran Côté for his work, efforts and perseverance towards obtaining the Master Fishing Vessel, third class certificate.
