Fishermen of the Future
Ten potential new fishermen for the Shetland fleet have completed their introductory training at the NAFC Marine Centre.
The ten students have successfully finished the three-week Seafish-funded Introduction to Commercial Fishing course. During their time at NAFC the students have covered a variety of subjects and practical tasks, ranging from safety and sea survival to net-mending, catch handling and basic navigation. The three-week course includes the mandatory safety training courses required by anyone working at sea, and also allows progress to the Modern Apprenticeship in Fish Catching.
A number of the students had previously attended NAFC over their last 2 years at school through the Skills for Work programme in Maritime Studies. Seven of the 10 students have been taken on by local fishing boats and have signed up to undertake the Modern Apprenticeship in fish catching. The other three will have the chance of work experience on local boats over the next few months.
Upon successful completion of the course the students were all presented with personal lifejackets supplied by the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (with thanks to Derek Cardno, SFF Safety Officer, for getting them here in time!) and with copies of the Shetland Fishermen Yearbook 2016 courtesy of Shetland Fishermen’s Association.
The students all enjoyed their time at NAFC and one said it had “been good and we learned a lot of important stuff”.
NAFC’s Section Leader for Fisheries Training, Mark Fullerton, said, “We are very pleased that there are significant numbers of young people coming forward with the ambition from an early age to work in the fishing industry. And we are delighted that so many local skippers are willing to take on apprentices, to give young people a start in the fishing industry and to help train the next generation of fishermen for the local fleet. This commitment to the future amongst local fishermen is deeply heartening and confirms the confidence that the local fishing industry has in the future.”
Liaison Officer Caroline Hepburn said that, “NAFC staff always enjoy seeing these young men starting out in a career at the fishing. We look forward to encouraging their progress through over the coming years through their apprenticeships, and hope that some will return in the future to sit their Skipper’s Tickets”.