Support is available for people beginning their careers in seafood, as well as for experienced workers.
Photo: Seafish
Seafish has secured more than £1.4 million (€1.64m/$1.86m) to fund training for people working across the UK seafood industry and those seeking to enter the sector, the organisation announced yesterday.
The UK public body has received £419,950 (€491,000/$559,000) from Marine Fund Scotland to provide training in Scotland until 31 March 2027. A further £998,858 (€1.17 million/$1.33 million) has been awarded through the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme for courses in England until 31 March 2028.
Funding is also in place for Wales, while support for Northern Ireland remains dependent on the approval of a separate application.
Seafish said the investment is expected to provide around 6,000 training days each year for people working throughout the seafood supply chain, with potential beneficiaries to include fishers and aquaculture businesses, as well as processors, wholesalers and fish retailers.
Eligible fishers in England and Scotland can apply for up to £10,000 (€11,700/$13,300) towards training costs, subject to the availability of funding.
Support is available for people beginning careers at sea as well as for experienced workers completing refresher courses. Eligible programmes under the scheme include essential safety training such as sea survival, firefighting and first aid, alongside qualifications in areas including engineering and navigation.
“The seafood industry depends on a skilled workforce and ensuring people have access to high-quality training is essential if we are to attract new talent and support those already working in the sector, said Neil McAleese, head of industry workforce issues at Seafish.
“This funding allows us to invest in people right across the seafood supply chain, from those taking their first steps into the industry to experienced professionals looking to develop new skills.”
For the first time, funding from Marine Fund Scotland and the Fisheries and Seafood Scheme will also be available for Seafish’s onshore training programmes.
Eligible businesses will be able to access courses covering food hygiene and hazard analysis and critical control point systems. Funding will also cover health and safety training and specialist skills such as fish quality assessment and smoking.
The expansion means support will extend beyond the catching sector to workers and businesses involved in handling, processing and selling seafood, with part of the Scottish funding used to deliver the UK Seafood Federation’s six-day Future Seafood Leaders Programme in Peterhead.
“By making this training more accessible, we're helping businesses build resilience, improve safety standards and equip the workforce with the skills needed for the future,” McAleese said.
Applications for onshore training funding can be made through Seafish at onshore@seafish.co.uk, while enquiries about seagoing courses can be sent to training@seafish.co.uk.
