KINGSTON, Jamaica — Two hundred fishers from across the country have so far benefited from the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA) Safety at Sea Training Programme.

Implemented in 2022 under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Caribbean Maritime University (CMU) and the University of the West Indies (UWI), the two-component programme, covering safety at sea and safe diving practices, aims to equip fishers with critical skills needed to safely navigate the sea.

Speaking at a JIS Think on Tuesday, senior director of extension services at the NFA’s Capture Fisheries Branch, Shellene Berry, said the training is done using a hybrid format involving theoretical and practical aspects.

“Fishers are taught in various skillsets as it relates to safety and survival at sea. They are taught how to man their personal equipment, such as life jackets, use very high frequency (VHF) radios and global positioning system (GPS) instruments, and there’s a component that deals with fire safety. They are also taught how to be good stewards of the environment, how to keep records of their daily catch and of things that they see around them, which also aid them in being prepared or to be safe at sea,” she said.

The training, which is free of cost, runs over three days for the safety at sea aspect, while the safe diving practices is a residential course lasting four to five days.

Berry said that 160 fishers have been trained under the safety at sea component, which is conducted by CMU, with 40 benefiting under the safe diving practices aspect, which is being facilitated by UWI.

“With UWI, we offer open water certification in scuba diving. Persons are trained how to dive safely and also, they are offered at the end of the day, a certification in PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) open water,” she informed.

The implementation of the five-year Safety at Sea Training Programme is a strategic priority under the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, aimed at promoting the sustainability of the fisheries sector and resilience within the industry.

— JIS