Funding made available to increase skills of fishing vessel crews
Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, has announced funding for fishing vessel crews looking to increase their skills and safety knowledge.
Those who are not currently working in the fishing industry, but are interested in a career in the sector, are also invited to apply for funding.
Fishermen, vessel crew or those looking to enter the fishing industry are being urged to apply for funding to improve their skills, safety knowledge and career prospects.
The funding has been provided through the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the four UK fisheries administrations with the training itself aiming to take participants beyond the minimum legal requirements.
Training that may be supported includes refresher safety courses such as Sea Survival, Fire Fighting, First Aid, and Safety Awareness as well as career development courses, such as navigation, engineering and radio operation, for those working towards obtaining skipper certification.
Seafish said funding could also support people who want to begin a career in the fishing industry.
Upon completion of training, Seafish now issues digital certificates, making it easier for participants to access their qualification when needed or store in an electronic safety folder, if they have one, for their vessel.
Neil McAleese, head of industry workforce issues at Seafish, said: “Keeping our fishing communities safe and skilled is a priority for Seafish.
“This funding gives people working at sea an opportunity to sharpen their skills, refresh important safety knowledge and grow their career.
“We urge anyone interested, from experienced crew to people thinking about joining the industry, to find out what support is available and to apply.”
Funding is currently available through to Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
For more details, or to apply, go to tinyurl.com/v3uuhszu for further information and to find an online application form.