Charity drive to boost welfare in fishing

MNWB, the umbrella charity for the UK Merchant Navy and fishing fleets, says it developed the video course to raise awareness of the International Convention on Work in Fishing (C188) legislation.

“There are around 10,000 fishers working on UK registered vessels who are vital to the supply chain,” said Stuart Rivers, chief executive of the MNWB.

“We all have an important role to play in ensuring our hard-working fishers receive first-class welfare support in a job that demands long hours and can result in loneliness.

“This is why the new C188 video is so important in educating those who are involved in the fishing sector which in turn will improve people’s confidence from advice on health and safety and medical treatment to contracts and recruitment.”

The video follows a number of face-to-face training sessions on C188 held by the MNWB in early 2023.

It underpins knowledge already gained in the MNWB’s ‘Work in Fishing Convention (C188) Everything you wanted to know but were frightened to ask!’ guide, produced in consultation with The Fishermen’s Mission, Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Nautilus International and the Fishing Industry Safety Group.

Trinity House, a maritime safety and welfare organisation, sponsored the project using funds provided by the Department for Transport.