Fisherman training course devised after Simshar tragedy considered ‘incomplete’

It-Torca reports that fishermen are feeling threatened with the suspension of their licence if they do not complete the safety course. The course will involve training in health and security, basic first aid and fire prevention.

Malta has not yet signed the International Convention of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for seafarers, although it appears imminent that they do so.

Fishermen have expressed concern as part of this document states that those undertaking the safety course will be taught to diversify their activities outside of the fishing sector. There are currently 1,140 registered fishermen; 870 in Malta and 270 in Gozo, registered as part-time or full-time. The majority of them have never been formally trained to work in the fishing industry, and most were encouraged into it through their fathers or grandfathers.

Sources close to the fisheries department said: “The courses will be free of charge, and we cannot understand why some fishermen are not agreeing with it. We admit there are money shortages but we’ve started taking the first steps. Fishermen never admit the risks linked to their job, and are more concerned of not having a good catch or their fish going bad rather than thinking about the risks involved,” it-Torca reports.

A fisherman who confided with the newspaper said “We got to know that if we do not attend, our licence could be suspended. We are not against the course but don’t want it to be half-hearted, as opposed to what we were promised after the Simshar tragedy."

The Simshar tragedy claimed the lives of three people, one of them a young boy whose body was never found.