A new three week fishing course designed to introduce people to the fishing industry has been well received by the local community in Looe, Cornwall, UK.
Western Training Association (WTA) held the Introduction to Commercial Fishing course, where students leaned about the skills needed for a career as a commercial fisherman.
Simon Potten, operations leader, Seafish, told World Fishing and Aquaculture: “We believe it is vital to ensure that new entrants to the fishing industry have access to the most comprehensive training and support."
"Our three-week Introduction to Commercial Fishing course prepares new entrants for work by training them to a standard above the minimum legal requirement and provides them with a solid foundation to launch a career in fishing," he added.
The course was funded by Seafish and the European Fisheries Fund with support from the Marine Management Organisation. It was attended by 14 students from the area, covering subjects including net mending, watch keeping, engineering, fire fighting and first aid at sea.
On the back of the course, local skippers and processing companies in Looe are providing students with a week of work experience to provide a practical insight into the industry.
