CORNWALL'S fish industry has received a boost with the start of a new programme of £70,000 of training courses, with thanks to financial support from EU Objective One.
The Pyskessa Kernow project has helped 11 fishermen to take essential radio courses which will equip them with new skills as well as allow them to get their licence. This is the first course on the Pyskessa Kernow training programme which will train up to 250 fishermen and fish industry workers in Cornwall by March 2008.
The Pyskessa Kernow project will bring about a sea change in the training and skills development for the fishing industry as it focused on the exact needs of the industry in the county and coordinating trainers to meet those needs. The training funds will be used to help finance courses which all sectors in the fishing industry need, including: Radio courses, Skippers, Mates and Engineers tickets, Forklift driving, Food Hygiene, Net Mending, Fish Filleting and Risk Assessment.
Paul Trebilcock, Chief Executive of the CFPO stated: “The industry in Cornwall has struggled for many years to get the training it demands with many courses being held out of the county and others absent all together. But now CFPO is putting its money and efforts behind providing courses locally so that fishermen can get courses on the quayside in England’s biggest fishing port.”
Sarah Henshall organises courses and coordinates trainers and tutors from the CFRC. She stated: “All parts of the industry are taking advantage of the new funds and courses. With investment in new machinery on shore and new fishing gears and electronics off shore its essential that we focus on training in new skills as the fish industry has never been more complex or demanding.”
Fish industry specific skills such as net mending and fish filleting have been identified by the Cornwall Fisheries Resource Centre’s recent training study as ‘essential’ and work has focused in this area.
“I am working with fishermen and net manufacturers to write a syllabus and design a net mending course. At the same time several fish processors have signed up to the training programme to get their most experienced fish filleters trained as instructors to deliver the Seafish Fish Filleting course in the county.”
Pyskessa Kernow Project is managed by SW Pesca Ltd and funded from Objective One ESF, the Cornwall County Council and the Cornish Fish Producers Organisation.
Please call Sarah Henshall at the Cornwall Fisheries Resource Centre for information on new courses and funding available. Tel: 01736 364324
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