In Aftermath of Sinking, Crew Member’s Widow Says Transport Canada Reform Falls Short

A searcher rides along the shore of the Bay of Fundy in Hillsburn, N.S., as they continue to look for missing fishermen after the sinking of the scallop dragger Chief William Saulis, on Dec. 16, 2020. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan

Transport Canada will tighten inspections of fishing vessels in the aftermath of a deadly Nova Scotia sinking in 2020, but the widow of a lost crew member says the reform doesn’t go far enough to prevent future tragedies.

Six crew members died on Dec. 15, 2022, when the Chief William Saulis capsized as heavy seas crashed into the rocking boat and 2,700 kilograms of unsecured scallops slid around a deck, blocking drainage.