Seafish has secured £140,000 in funding from the Scottish Government to help it subsidise vital safety training for workers on commercial fishing vessels.
The funding, provided by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency and the new Maritime and Fisheries Fund, means that Seafish can provide training for fishermen across the whole of the UK, not just those in Scotland.
Any training will need to be completed by the 31 March 2022 when the funding will expire. “With training providers still getting back to normal after the pandemic and many operating with reduced class sizes, training places are at a premium,” said Simon Potten, head of safety & training at Seafish, who urged people to book early to avoid disappointment.
Derek Cardno, safety & training officer at the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, expressed his appreciation to Seafish for submitting the application. “The funding will encourage more fishermen to do any safety training that they feel is vital to help keep them and their fellow crew members safe,” he said. “It will also help career-minded fishermen to gain the qualifications they need to become the skippers, mates and engineers that the Scottish fishing industry needs.”
Both those with experience and new entrants who want to work in the fishing industry are eligible for funding. The training must be formally recognised and delivered by a provider approved by either Seafish, the Maritime & Coastguard Agency or the Royal Yachting Association.
More details can be found on the Seafish website.
