Industry condolences to family of San Cuvier crew

Industry condolences to family of San Cuvier crew
28 July 2008

Joint media statement from New Zealand Seafood Industry Council and Federation of Commercial Fishermen.

The New Zealand Seafood Industry Council and the Federation of Commercial Fishermen jointly expressed sincere condolences to family members, friends and workmates of commercial fishermen Rick Josephs and Damian Wyatt who died at sea yesterday morning.

“Our thoughts and sympathies are with those people close to Mr Josephs and Mr Wyatt. While loss of life at sea is a rare event these days, the ocean is a harsh master and risks exist even for the most seasoned skippers and crewmen. We also wish the other rescued San Cuvier crew members injured or in hospital a speedy recovery,” said New Zealand Seafood Industry Council chief executive Owen Symmans and President of the NZFCF, Doug Loder.

Maritime New Zealand and the police are investigating the accident.

The New Zealand Shipwreck Welfare Trust

The New Zealand Shipwreck Welfare Trust is a charitable trust set up to offer support to the bereaved families of the fishermen who die at sea.

The trust (formerly and often still referred to as the Shipwreck Relief Society) was formed over 100 years ago and plays a unique, unobtrusive welfare role in providing immediate financial support to widows and bereaved families affected by shipwrecks and mishaps at sea relating to commercial fishing and merchant shipping.

Assistance to bereaved families is usually in the form of monthly grants sufficient for support until an inquest is held and insurances can be paid. Dependent on the circumstances of the incident, it can sometimes be many months before an inquest.

The New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen, New Zealand based shipping, fishing companies, the New Zealand Seafood Industry Council, port authorities and the general public provides the funding for the Society.

In May this year, the New Zealand Federation of Commercial Fishermen hosted it annual Charity Shipwreck Auction at the industry conference and raised $32,000 for the Society.

ENDS

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