How do I become a Share Fisherman?
Career
A career as a fisherman is a hard one but does have many rewards. A deckie learner can work his or her way up through the ranks by taking the required exams and gaining the experience necessary to, one day, become a skipper of a trawler.
Maybe this can even lead to owning a trawler and operating a successful business. You will need many skills including net making, marine engineering, fish sorting, navigation, health and safety and cooking. All of which make fishing a varied and interesting career.
Apprenticeship
South Devon College, based in Paignton, is now recruiting its third group of fishers to its ground-breaking Fisher Apprenticeship. Working alongside regional employers the apprenticeship is training the next generation to sustainably harvest fish and shellfish as well as learn about fishing methods.
The broad purpose of the Fisher Apprenticeship is to sustainably harvest fish and shellfish and to train the next generation of this industry. Fishing methods range from static gears such as shellfish pots through to modern, selective, high-tech trawl equipment. A fisher works as part of a team, both onshore and at sea. They are involved in the entire end-to-end process, through to transporting the catch to market to enable it to be sold. They set up the fishing gear and fit it to a boat and watch-keep on a navigational passage to and from fishing grounds. They deploy and retrieve gear and catch, process, store and land the fish (or shellfish).
The following videos by South Devon College are very useful:
Training Requirements for Starting Work in Commercial Fishing (UK)
Anyone starting work on a UK-registered commercial fishing vessel is required to complete approved safety training before going to sea.
New entrants typically begin with an introductory safety course and are expected to complete a small number of additional short courses during their first few months at sea.
These courses generally cover areas such as sea survival, fire safety, first aid and health & safety on board.
After gaining some practical experience at sea, further training may be required to build on this foundation and ensure ongoing safety awareness and competency.
Some training providers also offer combined or introductory programmes that include several of the required courses, along with additional hands-on experience in areas like vessel operations, watchkeeping and catch handling. These options can provide a more comprehensive introduction to the fishing industry.
More Information:
For the latest training requirements, course details, and availability, please visit the following links:
