A new mandatory maritime safety training initiative for local fishing workers will open for participation next year, organized by the government’s Fisheries Division as a core component of its ongoing Fisher Professional Development Training Programme. The half-day Safety at Sea training session is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, running from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the meeting facility housed within the Point Wharf Fisheries Complex, located on Lower North Street.
In an official public notice signed by Chief Fisheries Officer Ian Horsford, the division clarified that this safety training is not an optional workshop—it is a formal regulatory requirement for all local fishers seeking to maintain or renew their operating licenses. For trainee fishers working toward full professional fisher certification, completing the course is also a non-negotiable prerequisite to advance their status in the industry.
While the training is prioritized for two key groups: newly registered fishers who have never completed mandatory safety training, and veteran working fishers who have not yet fulfilled this requirement, organizers have confirmed that any licensed fisher in the region is eligible to attend, provided that there is enough open space in the venue to accommodate additional participants.
To secure a spot in the upcoming 2026 session, interested fishers must complete registration by calling the dedicated contact line at 462-1372. Participants are required to have their official Fisher ID on hand when they call to register, to verify their eligibility and speed up the reservation process.