Training Requirements

 

Apprentice/New Entrant

 

All apprentices/new entrants must be sponsored annually by a certified professional fish harvester who is an enterprise owner/operator/skipper.

 

As a condition of registration with the Board, all Apprentices and New Entrants are required to complete a recognized basic safety course prior to beginning their second fishing season. Harvesters who have completed a Marine Emergency Duties (MED A1 or equivalent) are exempt from the Basic Safety Training requirement.

 

The Board has developed a 5-day BST course that is delivered throughout the province. This 5-day course includes two days of General Seamanship and Stability, one day of Marine Emergency Duties (MED A3), and two days of Marine Advance First Aid. Harvesters preferring to complete the MED A1 course at Marine Institute will be exempt, but the course MUST be completed prior to beginning their second fishing season

Upgrading to Professional Fish Harvester Level I

 

To reach Level I, Apprentices are required to complete a minimum of two years of full-time fishing, and accumulate 60 land-based education credits, including five credits in Basic Safety.

Upgrading to Professional Fish Harvester Level II

 

To reach Level II, Level I harvesters are required to complete a minimum of five years of full-time fishing, and accumulate 60 land-based education credits in addition to credits accumulated to reach Level I.  Of those 120 credits, at least 10 credits must be in Navigation.

Upon reaching Level II

 

The certification criteria does not require a Level II harvester to complete land-based education credits. However, the Board encourages all Level II harvesters to continue upgrading their education, skills, and knowledge of the industry.

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