Training
All professional fish harvesters, including existing harvesters and new
entrants, are required to accumulate a specific number of land-based education
credits in addition to completing a defined number of years of full-time
fishing in order to progress from Apprentice to Level I and from Level
I to Level II.
It is important that harvesters understand the certification criteria,
and exactly what is required in order to progress from one certification
level to the next. Equally important is that harvesters understand what
is required in order to maintain their certification status.
Requirements
Apprentice / New Entrant
All apprentices/new entrants must be sponsored in the industry 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.
Upon reaching Level II
The certification criteria do 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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