Twenty youths from two TVET institutions in East New Britain are currently undergoing a Commercial Fishing Operations Training.
The 10-weeks training held at Rabaul Hotel is facilitated by the National Fisheries College for trainees or graduates from Milmila and Woolnough Technical Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions.
ENB Provincial Fisheries Coordinator Dickson Kondaul said the prerequisite for Commercial Fishing Operations Level One (CFO1) Training follows the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the ENB provincial government and National Fisheries Authority for fisheries management and development in the province.
The CFO1 is a competent course targeting trainees to seek employment onboard both fishing vessels and merchant ships either working as seafarers or deck-hands and eventually make their way up to be captains or work in the engine room as motorman to chief engineers, he said.
The CFO1 Training Package includes; Safety Of Life At Sea (SOLAS), OBM Operations, Seamanship, Navigation, Fishing Techniques, Gear Rigging (Preparation), Practical Navigation and Fishing onboard NFC FV Pokajam.
He said this training is one Key Result Area (KRA) under the National Fisheries Strategic Plan (FSP) 2021 – 2030.
ENBs Fisheries Sector’s programs and projects have been realigned to FSP 2021 – 2030. As such, NFC as a Business Group or division under NFA would continue to deliver the course package in the province, which is more convenient and affordable for the trainees under co-funding arrangement, Mr Kondaul said.
In a bid to provide more employment opportunities for youths, the ENB Provincial Fisheries sector is strategizing to train more skilled people in ENB as it prepares for the upcoming Rabaul Tuna Terminal project.
Mr Kondaul said interested youths who would like to pursue career in the Fishing and Shipping Industry can enquire at the Rabaul Provincial Fisheries Office to get more information.