Rescuer stresses need for dredging

One of the fishing boat captains involved in a rescue of five crew members from a swamped fishing boat in Hardy’s Channel on Monday is critical of the federal government for not getting channel dredging done in time.

In a Facebook post Monday night, David Clements lamented the lack of channel dredging.

In an interview Tuesday, he suggested there would have been time to have the channel dredged before the opening of lobster season on full moon tides.

He said his boat dragged on the sandbar for 50 to 75 metres while returning to port on Tuesday.

“It makes it dangerous, because you’re coming in on a bad day and you go aground and there’s a big sea coming behind you.

“You’re filling your boat,” Clements described the risk.

Captain of the swamped vessel, Nick Lewis, acknowledged shallow water in the channel is not new but possibly more shallow than previous years.

He said it’s not up to him to comment on whether dredging should have been carried out.

Roping the Wind and the lobster gear that was onboard Monday, were still adrift Tuesday, but had drifted about 75 metres away from the channel.

Besides arranging for boat, gear and tags, Lewis said he is also in discussion with his insurance company about retrieving the swamped vessel and gear.