Fishermen encouraged to apply for safety training

LOCAL commercial fishermen are being encouraged to take up the offer of free safety training which is available until the end of March.

Industry body Seafish said the training can cover basic training and safety refreshers through to navigation and stability awareness.

The training is provided locally through the NAFC Marine Centre in Scalloway and it is paid for by the European Maritime Fisheries Fund and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Seafish’s head of safety and training Simon Potten encouraged anyone interested to sign up before the funding runs out on 31 March.

“Despite advances in the design and construction of safer fishing vessels, we are still seeing too many accidents every year and far too many serious injuries and fatalities to crew. Many of these could have been avoided,” he said.

“Safe working practices are taught on training courses, but the knowledge and skills gained still have to be put into practice by fishermen when back working onboard their vessels.

“Seafish has managed to secure several million pounds in funding for fishermen’s training over the last 20 years, but we can’t be sure of future funding.”

To apply for funding for the training, visit here.