RECOVERY OF FISHERMEN LOST AT SEA

Motion Text

That this House commends the Isle of Man Government for its humanitarian attitude shown towards the families of the crew of the 'Solway Harvester' by agreeing to the families' wishes to recover the bodies of their loved ones, and believes that such operations should be a public responsibility; urges Ministers to give a firm undertaking that policy in this matter will be changed and to charge a public agency with the responsibility of examining the feasibility of recovering bodies from boats lost at sea and reaching a considered judgement based on safety and technical considerations; and criticises the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions for not coming forward with the Government's response to the consultation paper, Fishing Vessel Accidents and the Recovery of those Lost at Sea, one year after publishing the responses received and over two years after the loss of the Peterhead-registered fishing boat 'Sapphire'.