Port aux Basques Mayor John Spencer said the community is in mourning after a local fisherman died aboard a vessel earlier this week.
The Eastern Pride, carrying a crew of eight and based out of the Curling area of Corner Brook, ran aground on Eagle Island, near Cox’s Cove, early Tuesday morning.
One of the men had died aboard the ship.
The RCMP confirmed the man was in his 60s and was from the Port aux Basques area.
It has since been determined he died of natural causes, the RCMP said.
Spencer said he knew the deceased man his entire life and called his death a tragedy for the community.
“He worked hard all his life,” Spencer told SaltWire Network. “He was known around the community, and the community mourns the loss of a citizen.”
At 5 a.m. Tuesday, the Canadian Coast Guard’s Marine Communications and Traffic Services Centre in Port aux Basques received a distress call from the Eastern Pride, which reported running aground with eight people aboard.
Two nearby fishing vessels were the first to arrive on the scene, and the CCGS Cape Fox, from Lark Harbour, also attended.
The Canadian Coast Guard said local fishermen reported at 6:15 a.m. that everyone was evacuated from the Eastern Pride and transported to shore.
The remaining crew members were not injured.
The Maritime Rescue Sub-Centre in St. John’s also tasked a CH-149 Cormorant helicopter from Gander to respond, but due to the speed in which local fishermen assisted the distressed vessel, it stood down before taking off.
A Canadian Coast Guard environmental response team was still on location Thursday, and will continue monitoring the site as the owner of the Eastern Pride arranges a damage assessment of the vessel’s hull and develops a plan to remove any potential pollution from the vessel in coming weeks.
A communications official for the Coast Guard said no pollution has been observed.
Transport Canada is conducting a compliance inspection to determine whether the requirements of the Canada Shipping Act, 2001 and the associated regulations have been met.
Service NL’s Occupational Health and Safety Division is also investigating.
Condolences
On Wednesday, Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture Minister Elvis Loveless offered his condolences to the family and friends of the Eastern Pride crew member who died.
“To his fellow crew members who have lost a trusted and treasured friend, please know we are very thankful you are safe, and truly sorry for your loss,” Loveless said in a statement. “Work on the sea is part of the lifeblood of Newfoundland and Labrador, and tragic events like this are a harsh reminder of the risks involved in this challenging but vital profession.”
Loveless also thanked harvesters and the Coast Guard for participating in the rescue operation.
