Funding support for training in the fishing industry

 

Funding may be available for workers on fishing vessels in the UK to improve their skills and safety knowledge. 

We can help to fund a range of training for people working on fishing vessels in the UK. The funds have come from the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the new Maritime and Fisheries Funds from the four fisheries administrations in the UK. 

The funds may be used to cover a range of safety training to improve your knowledge, skills and qualifications above and beyond the minimum legal requirements.

It can also be used to support people who want to start a career in the fishing industry.

Courses eligible for funding

Refresher safety training is eligible for funding

The following courses may be eligible for funding. The courses are run by our Approved Training Providers who will receive the funding directly once the funds have been approved. 

New Entrant Training
Our 3-week Introduction to Commercial Fishing course is designed for people interested in starting a career in the fishing industry. Please note: this course is currently under review.

Refresher safety Training
This can be taken by experienced fishermen who completed the mandatory safety training more than three years ago. The courses include sea survival, fire-fighting, first aid and safety awareness. 

Under 16.5m Skipper's Certificate
Comprising short courses in

• Navigation/Bridge Watchkeeping
• Engineering/Engine Room Watchkeeping
• Stability Awareness
• GMDSS radio operation

Additional funding is also available for fishermen who already hold the Seafish Under 16.5m skipper's certificate to take further advanced courses.

Certificates of Competency
Grant support is available for experienced fishermen undertaking MCA (Fishing Vessel) Deck and Engineer Officer Certificates of Competency. 

Other short courses
Other eligible courses may include:

• a higher level GMDSS radio operator certificate
• an Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS)
• Approved Engineering Course (AEC)
• Human Element Leadership and Management (HELM)

You can improve your skills in things like engineering

How to apply

You must complete a funding application form and seek approval from us in advance of any training. Follow the link below to download a an application form in Microsoft Word. 

• Fishers Training Funding Application Form

For refresher training or voluntary training courses towards an Under 16.5m Skipper’s Certificate, contact your local Seafish Approved Training Provider (ATP). We have training providers around the UK. Follow the link below to find your local Approved Training Provider.

If you satisfy their eligibility criteria and funding is still available, they will offer you the course free of charge.

• Find your local Approved Training Providers

If you want to do the training with a trainer that is not Seafish approved, please complete the funding application form (link to form above) and seek approval from us in advance of any training.

Terms and conditions of funding

Funding is not available retrospectively, so all applications must be approved in advance of training.

Available funding is allocated on a first come, first served basis so funding cannot be guaranteed. 

Funding for online learning during the Covid-19 pandemic

Additional funding has been provided by the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and Trinity House to enable us to offer free online tutor support and assessments via our network of approved training providers.

The funding can be used to support you with the following courses in our Seafish Online Training platform: 

• Navigation
• Engineering
• Stability awareness

These courses have been selected for funding because they make up some of the requirements of our voluntary under 16.5m skipper certificates. Anyone who passes the online, supervised end-of-course assessments will be issued with Seafish certificates for:

• two-day navigation
• two-day engineering
• one-day stability awareness

To take advantage of this offer, contact our Training team on training@seafish.co.uk. The team will provide whatever assistance is required and arrange tutor support and/or assessment.

Contacts

For more information on funding for training, get in touch with our Fishing Training team on 0131 558 3331 or email training@seafish.co.uk

Nippy Monday morning in Newlyn, awash with fish.

Net fish, beam trawl fish, trawl fish, handline fish...

it was all over the market this morning...

there were even a few early season sharks...

plenty of hake form the Stelissa...

and the Silver Dawn...

a good few boxes of high value fish like these turbot...

and John Dory...

the array of different box colours resembled that of Van Gogh's palette...

Brackan on the Spirited Lady III landed some glistening haddock...

while the other inshore trawlers picked up good sots of ray...

many of these boats now remove the wings at sea to save on fishroom space, they save the cut out bodies for the crabbers to use as bait for their pots

dabs...

and other flats helped keep supplies moving...

while big white fish like pollack came from the ever-reliable Ocean Pride...

along with big bass, which seem to be all over the grounds at the moment...

the Imogen landed this huge monk tail...

at 0˚ it was a chilly start to the day with not a cloud in the sky...

these big blondes came courtesy of the Voyager...

the sharks get bigger...

Cornish King crab were mentioned on Radio Cornwall's breakfast show with James Churchfield this morning...

listen to the short report on Newlyn's fish market from the chair of Newlyn Harbour Commissioners...

at 125 kg that's a lot of BBQ tuna steaks...

the inshore fridge was full of mainly mackerel tis morning...

lemons...

and red mullet are always a good sight slipping out on to the deck when the cod end is opened...

the big crabber is landing at the end of the Mary Williams pier...

the sun makes a bid for higher things...

as the Charlotte Clare heads in through the gaps...

Ollie, "Where's my boxes" Oliver...

there's just enough breeze to keep the flags flying over Newlyn this morning.

 

“Government are going to make us criminals,” fear English fishermen

English fishermen are deeply concerned that new regulations regarding the enforcement of Catch-App will turn them into criminals.

Fishermen across England are deeply concerned as the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) the Government’s fishing regulator in England, sets the date of 28 February 2022 for the enforcement stage of the Catch-App which could leave them facing prosecutions they cannot avoid.

These new rules will only apply to the smallest fishing boats in England under 10m in length.

Catch-App, a phone app designed to record small vessels catches has so far cost the Government over £2.4m to develop. But fishermen say beyond shortcoming of the app the rules that require all of the catch to be immediately weighed at landing and accurate weights recorded prior to being moved off the quay, even if that is just a few metres from where a fish auction, is unworkable.

the fishing daily advertise with us Brain Tapper who fishes with his son BJ out of Plymouth has grave concerns about the regulations.

He says, “It is impossible to comply with this new regulation, the Government knows that most harbours don’t have scales for fishermen to use, and that it is impossible to accurately guess the weight of fish in boxes consistently. Government is going to make us criminals. Meanwhile, all the EU boats of our size that the UK has given licenses to fish in our waters, don’t have to use Catch-App”.

By contrast larger UK vessels and EU vessels over 10m, licensed to fish English waters that use a different system, Elog, do not have to weigh their fish on quaysides and are allowed to wait for accurate weights from the auctions before declaring the landing weight. Small-scale fishermen believe they are being unlawfully singled out by the Government.

Leading fisheries solicitor Andrew Oliver, partner of Hull based firm Andrew Jackson questioned the legal implications of the regulations.

“This is a clear breach of human rights. It is against public law principles to create a criminal offence for which it is impossible to comply with. A solicitor being asked by the regulator to prosecute non-compliance would be forced to refuse as it would clearly fail the public interest test they are required to consider before bringing a prosecution. Government needs to immediately pause this enforcement stage rollout, and seek urgent legal advice,” says Oliver.

The issues surrounding whether fishermen can guess the weights of fish is not a new one. The margins of tolerance for accuracy of recorded catches have been looked at by successive Governments and the EU since the early 2000’s and studies have demonstrated how difficult this is. That is why the Buyers and Sellers Regulations 2005 require anyone buying fish off boats, auctions or private business to accurately record and report weights to the Government.



Third-generation fishermen Tim Lynn who fishes his 4.5 metre boat off Hallsands criticised the App saying, “I fish off a beach which doesn’t even have hardstanding for scales. My family fished out of the old village before it washed away in the great storm of 1917. My boat is the size of an estate car, and I can only fish about 30/50 days a year because of the weather and yet the Government wants to know what I land before I do. My port isn’t even on the Catch-APP, so I have to enter one nearby, they really aren’t interested in accuracy. There are literally hundreds of EU boats out there ten times the size of mine, fishing day in day out, ‘cos the Government has let them and they don’t have to do what we are being asked to.”

On the issue of the mandatory introduction of the Catch-App, Shadow Fisheries Minister Daniel Zeichner said:

“The under 10m fleets are the heartbeat of many of our coastal communities. It is truly shocking that despite warnings from industry, lawyers and Labour that this new requirement is unworkable for over a year that Government are pushing on and causing so much anguish in harbours around England at a time when morale is low, earnings have been poor and the broken Brexit promises are still raw. The regulator has refused invites to attend harbours and try it for themselves and now seem so wedded to this flawed policy they are willing to see fishermen dragged to court to prove it. With just days to go, Secretary of State George Eustice must now urgently intervene on his tin-eared regulator the MMO, pause this process, and demonstrate how it can be complied with, or scrap it”.

By Terri Portmann

A lawyer and Blue Colonialism.

The article below appeared on the French Fisheries and Development Initiative web site - the Blue Economy is all about who 'owns' the seas - not necessarily a good thing for the fishing industry - anywhere.

Nathalie Ros is a lawyer, professor at the University of Tours (IRJI); she is Vice-President and Secretary General of the International Association for the Law of the Sea. In the context of the conference on the oceans to be held in Brest on February 11 and 12, her reflections allow us to measure the stakes of this meeting especially for fishermen.

In several recent articles, notably in the journal Neptunus [ 1 ] , she has developed analyses and concepts which support our own reflections. She thus denounces the privatisation of the oceans in various forms such as transferable quotas, but also the seizure of marine spaces by multinationals in the name of Blue Growth, or the creation of large MPAs banned from fishing in the name of conservation. All this is being done at the expense of fishing: " the fishing sector, perceived as an obstacle if not a competitor by the new marine industries, is too often seen today as a scapegoat, in defiance of the efforts made by some and reduced to nothing by others [ 2 ] " . At the same time: "Private actors, often foreigners, can thus benefit from exclusive rights over large parts of the national maritime space, in addition sometimes located very offshore".

For Nathalie Ros: "The approach can then fall under blue colonialism, when the sharing of space takes place systematically to the detriment of local populations, in favor of foreign industries" [ 3 ] . This blue colonialism is promoted by large Anglo-Saxon environmentalist NGOs that we denounce for a long time: “Proclaiming themselves to be representative of civil society and public opinion, which they actually manipulate all the more easily via new means of communication. , it is not neutral that most of these environmental NGOs plead almost exclusively in favor of a no-take MPA design prohibiting all fishing activities but not necessarily other industrial uses of the sea.

By virtue of their conservationist philosophy, their mode of financing, as well as their corporate governance which is not representative but cooptative, these NGOs are the spearhead of blue colonialism. Beyond their involvement in the creation of MPAs, they are indeed the actors of a real private environmental governance of the oceans, as direct or indirect manager of MPAs.

Blue colonialism is not state colonialism; it is ecocolonialism: conservationism in the service of tourism and access to mineral resources ”. And it ends thus:"The conclusion is therefore clear: there is no blue justice in particular for the poorest and the most dependent on the ocean who are often already the most vulnerable populations" .

Such an analysis joins that of Catherine Le Gall in "The oceanic imposture" [ 4 ] , itself confirmed by André Standing in an argued article [ 5 ] . “The new generation of conservation leaders come from the financial and consulting communities, where the ideals of democracy and deliberation are counterintuitive. Their universe is characterised by speed and the desire to triumph, and its values ​​are concealment, cunning and competition ”. There was a time when when we developed these theses, we were accused of conspiracy. Today there are enough arguments validated by surveys and academic analyses to dispel these denials. But it will undoubtedly still take time to counterbalance the media, political and financial power of the lobbies which plan to exclude fishermen. Should we console ourselves with the reflection of Anatole France? : “As we get older, we realise that the rarest courage is that of thinking”.

Thursday, January 13, 2022, by LE SANN Alain Fisheries and Development Bulletin n ° 196, January 2022 | Marine Protected Area Maritime law Blue Economy ENGO 

Courtesy of the Fisheries and Development Collective Fish for a living - click here for links to [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] references in the article (use Google translate)

£75 million boost to modernise UK fishing industry and level up coastal communities

Multimillion investment boost to infrastructure to modernise UK ports and processing facilities and create jobs.

Fishing communities across the UK will benefit from better infrastructure, strengthened supply chains, new jobs and an investment in skills thanks to a £75 million boost for the sector announced by UK Government today.

The investment will strengthen the sector’s ability to land more fish in the UK and take them to market faster. This will be achieved by improving the capacity and efficiency of our harbours and processing facilities while boosting the long-term sustainability of the fishing industry and supporting jobs, increasing opportunities for coastal communities and levelling up across the country.

A £65 million infrastructure scheme will be made available for projects such as modernising ports and harbours alongside increasing capacity and efficiency at processing and aquaculture facilities. A competition will be run to identify the best projects, prioritising those that reduce carbon emissions, helping increase the sustainability of the sector and contributing towards the UK’s commitment to reach Net Zero by 2050.

Up to £10 million will also be used to encourage new entrants into the processing, catching and aquaculture sectors, alongside training and upskilling current workers. We will do this by offering an improved package of training to people joining the industry and making it easier for people from coastal communities to progress through their career.

The two funding schemes are the second and third parts of the £100 million UK Seafood Fund designed to level up coastal communities across the UK. This follows the Science and Innovation pillar, announced in September, which is investing in new technology, trialling new gear and supporting world-class research to improve the productivity and long-term sustainability of the industry.

The investment will ensure the industry and coastal communities are equipped to benefit from additional quota gained as a result of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) signed last year with the EU.  Following our departure from the Common Fisheries Policy, there have been uplifts in quota for UK vessels, with the value of UK-EU fishing opportunities for the UK in 2021 totalling approximately £333 million. (Though most of that is for pelagic fish Ed)

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 

"A year on from the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, a positive picture is emerging for our fishing industry.

Today, we are announcing a £65 million infrastructure scheme which will allow us to modernise ports and harbours and increase capacity and efficiency at processing facilities. A £10 million fund will encourage new entrants into the processing, catching and aquaculture sectors, and train and upskill those in the industry.

We are committed to levelling up coastal communities across the UK, and this marks a period of rejuvenation for our fishing industry.  

Sustainability is an important aspect of both schemes. The Infrastructure pillar will invest in the transition to renewable energy."

Examples could include the electrification of UK ports to accommodate docking of electric or hybrid powered ships as well as increasing use of solar panels. 

Port electrification has already proven effective in cutting fossil fuel consumption and reducing emissions produced by the fishing industry. 

The transition of the UK seafood industry to more sustainable practices and a greater use of renewable sources will drive down energy costs, protect fish stocks in the future and improve sales as well as building on the UK’s reputation as a global leader in action to protect the environment.

Supporting the long-term future of the fishing sector, fishers will also be trained in more sustainable fishing techniques. This will help businesses work alongside offshore wind developments and existing Marine Protected Areas. The funding will also provide further support for fishers and industry workers through the development of new, tailored courses in business management, mathematics and literacy, as well as courses on health, safety and wellbeing improvements to existing courses with funding for staff and equipment.

We will invite industry to put forward bids for Infrastructure and Skills and Training with funding is provided to those that most benefit the industry. There will be several opportunities to bid for Infrastructure funding as we look to target different elements of the industry.

A further £1 million will be dedicated to promoting UK seafood, further details of which will be set out in 2022.

Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Michael Gove, said: "This multi-million pound investment will have a real and tangible impact on coastal communities across country and the UK fish industry. It will support the creation of jobs and training opportunities that will help put the industry on a sure footing for the future. We are working hard to boost local communities and spread opportunity to every corner of the country as we level up the nation."

Secretary of State for Wales, Simon Hart, said:

The UK Government is committed to Wales’s fishing industry and to ensuring its many coastal communities enjoy a sustainable, prosperous future. I encourage everyone in Wales eligible to apply for this funding to take up the opportunity to upskill their workforce, improve facilities, drive innovation and boost recruitment.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Malcolm Offord said:

We want to guarantee our fishing industry has a bright future and today’s allocation of funding is a great step forward. From upgrading ports and improving processing facilities to boosting training and encouraging recruitment, it all brings a massive boost for the industry.

Our engagement with Scotland’s fish and seafood sector is ongoing. We are listening to concerns and we are acting upon them for the benefit of business owners, workers and Scotland’s wider coastal communities.

This funding will be felt throughout the country as we support improvements to the UK supply chain by helping establish greater coordination between regions and nations of the UK. Funding will also ensure training schemes are coordinated so that benefits are felt across the Union. 

This comes as the UK government also publishes its response to a consultation with industry on proposed changes, collectively known as the ‘economic link’. This will increase the percentage of fish that must be landed in the UK by English registered vessels following our departure from the EU, providing a boost to fishing companies and producers, further strengthening the UK economy. The changes apply to UK vessels fishing against English quota and will come into effect from 1 April 2022. 

In a further move to ensure that fishing communities reap the benefits of Brexit, the package of measures known as the ‘economic link’, also includes increasing the minimum percentage of UK crew members that must be on board vessels to 70%, creating more job opportunities for UK residents. It will contribute to the financial boost to the local economies in fishing communities.   The amount of fish that must be landed in the UK after it is caught will rise from 50 to 70%, meaning more fish being sold and processed in the UK. Vessels that do not meet the landing or crewing requirement will be required to donate quota that provides valuable extra fishing opportunities to the inshore fleet. This will be increased from 16.5% to 20% in 2022 and we will seek to increase the current threshold over time.

These changes will provide a further boost to the fishing industry and the wider economy following our departure from the European Union.  Funding to infrastructure will ensure the industry is equipped to fully benefit from these changes and support the levelling up of UK coastal villages, towns and cities.

Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Simon Clarke said:

I’m delighted that we are supporting coastal communities across the country to level up by investing £75m in modernising and upskilling the fishing industry. The UK Seafood Fund will boost opportunities for coastal communities by creating jobs and supporting the long-term sustainability of the fishing industry.

Fine start to a #FishyFriday full of fabulous fresh fish!

With a big shot of top quality MSC hake from the netter Ygraine the first auction chill room was sacked out with fish...

and a sure sign of the change in seasons fish roes appeared on the market...

the sheer volume of fish seems to have put something of a strain on the supply of suitable boxes...

the twins also landed a good shot of big bass...

stunning tub gurnard...

and three types of bream...

a forth landed from another boat completed the set - only Newlyn fish auction regularly sees over 50 species of fish every week, to the delight of those discerning fishmongers, chefs and restauranteurs throughout Cornwall and the UK...

pristine pollack added to the stunning display...

this big 6 kilo-plus hake from the Ygriene keeping an eye on things...

with space at a premium, some landings were stacked to save space..

the maze-like auction floor proved tricky to navigate...

quality flats like these lemons...

and megrims, once the mainstay of the beam trawl fleet...

bass seems to be everywhere on the ground being landed from every type of boat in the fleet......

while the buyers still rely on the beam trawlers and inshore trawlers to land monk in quantity...

as usual, cuttlefish left their mark...

luckily, these brill were devoid of the ink that can detract from the look of these beautiful white-bellied fish, though it has no effect whatsoever on the flavour...

someone was working close enough to a wreck or two, or hard ground to pick up this quantity of big congers...

sepia red mullet...

a good mic of inshore fish boxed ready for sale...

the inshore fridge was stacked out with bass, pollack...

and plenty of mackerel...

as the sun began to throw some subtle hues skywards...

another Windcat stops by for fuel...

all is ship-shape on the Mordros...

it will be good to know if and when the the old ice works, which is such an iconic building in the port, is to become a heritage centre to match that of the Old Sardine Factory in Looe...

with such a superb view over the harbour......

mackerel sets for sale to help out any of the guys catching plenty of fish...

a chilly start and a heavy dew left its mark on the quay...

though it looks like the boys on the Enterprise won't have a chance to get cold, they'll be way too busy adjusting the gear today...

enjoy the early morning fish market and harbour action as the sun rises over Newlyn.