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SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 1

T RAININGFisheries Education and

Number 20 — August 2003

Editor: Michel Blanc, Fisheries Education and Training Adviser, Training Section, SPC, BP D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, NewC a l e d o n i a ( P h o n e : + 6 8 7 2 6 2 0 0 0 ; F a x : + 6 8 7 2 6 3 8 1 8 ; Em a i l : M i c h e l B l @ s p c . i n t ) . W e b s i t e : h t t p : / / w w w . s p c . i n t /Production: Fisheries Training Section, SPC. Printed with financial assistance from the Government of France and Australia.

ContentsFeatures• SPC bycatch training/awareness-

raising initiative ............................... 2

• Conservation through cooperation:the seabird bycatch issue inNew Zealand .................................. 4

• The Nelson Seabird Workshop ....... 6

Around the trainingand education centres• Training on sea safety and tuna

handling for Savaii fishermen .......... 8

• News from FSM FisheriesMaritime Institute .......................... 10

• News from Vanuatu MaritimeCollege ......................................... 12

• Train-Sea-Coast courseat USP.......................................... 14

• Kiribati training attachment ........... 16

• Certificate in AquacultureTechnology .................................. 17

• Training at Westport Deep SeaFishing School .............................. 18

• Training course on fisheriesmanagement ................................ 20

• Manage Vessel Condition courseat SPC Fiji .................................... 22

M a r i n e R e s o u r c e s D i v i s i o n – T r a i n i n g S e c t i o n

I N F O R M A T I O N B U L L E T I N

NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Secretariat of the Pacific Community

ISSN 1025 - 7438

The issue of bycatch in pelagic longlining was thoroughlydiscussed at the recent Heads of Fisheries meeting in Noumea(18–22 August 2003). SPC and its member countries andterritories have decided to take a proactive approach and tothat effect the Fisheries Training Section has been asked tocontinue raising awareness of fishing vessel crew in theregion. As part of this effort, and to complement recentlyproduced materials, a training package will be developed anddistributed to fisheries training institutions. This 20th issueof our bulletin is focused on bycatch issues in the Pacific,presenting the SPC initiative as well as providing an insightinto the New Zealand perspective.

Several new training programmes are also presented: a Certif-icate in Aquaculture Technology from the New ZealandSchool of Fisheries, innovative hospitality crew training at theVanuatu Maritime College and a Manage Vessel Conditioncourse at the SPC Maritime Programme in Suva. Recenttraining activities in Samoa, FSM and at USP are also reported.For those who can afford training in Europe, an intensive courseon fisheries co-management will be run in Holland later thisyear.

Trainees and training providers, your contributions to thenext issue will be most welcome!

Michel BlancSPC Fisheries Training Adviser

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 20032FEATURES

SPC bycatch training/awareness-raising initiative

SPC’s Fisheries Training Adviser, Michel Blanc,gave a presentation on bycatch issues in Pelagiclonglining at an annual regional meeting organisedby SPC’s Regional Maritime Programme. Thepresentation began with an overview of pelagiclongline fishing in the region, including a de-scription of gear configuration (e.g. mainlines aslong as 150 kilometers, with up to 2000 to 3000baited hooks and some buoys to prevent the gearfrom sinking).

An important aspect of longline fishing is thedepth at which the hooks are set. The depthdepends on the number of hooks between floats —the more hooks, the deeper the set — and the speedat which the line is paid out — the more line inrelation to vessel’s speed, the deeper the set. As arule of thumb, shallow sets (30–100m) targetswordfish while deep sets (100–500m) target var-ious species of tuna.

There are somewhere between 1500 and 2000longline vessels actively fishing in the Pacific. Thenumber of domestic longliners operating in theregion, has been increasing, with about 500 vesselspresently active, with a commensurate decline invessels from distant water fishing nations. About15,000 tonnes of fresh fish were exported in 2001.The number of jobs on board fishing vessels iscurrently around 3000, and there are about 5500shore jobs, including those in tuna canneries.

Pelagic longlining is an environmentally friendlyfishing technique because the gear does not drag onthe seabed and, if the line is lost, the fishing stopsonce the bait on the hook is gone. It is also quiteselective as only adult fish from a limited range ofspecies are caught. On average, only two tuna arecaught for every 100 hooks.

So what does bycatch mean? A fishing methodtargets specific fish species, referred to as targetspecies. Some non-target species have commercialvalue and so are kept. These are called byproduct.

Other non-target species have no commercial val-ue or are protected and are returned to sea. Theseare referred to as bycatch. Typically, in a pelagiclongline operation, target species are tunas (yel-lowfin, bigeye or albacore) or swordfish; byprod-uct consists of marlin, mahi mahi and wahoo.Bycatch species include sea turtles, pelagic rays andsharks (although fins are often kept for drying andmarketing in Asian countries).

Turtle populations are in decline, and this may bedue to coastal development, hunting, marine pol-lution and, certainly to a lesser extent, as a result ofpelagic longlining. Another issue receiving grow-ing attention from both the media and scientificspheres is the perceived overfishing of sharks. Al-though not as great a problem in the Pacific as insome other areas, there has been a decline in someshark species and this has been linked to pelagiclonglining. A third problem is the interactionbetween longline gear and seabirds, such as alba-trosses, especially in higher latitudes.

If the problem of turtle bycatch is not addressed, itcould result in considerable pressure from publicinterest groups on the fishery in the Pacific. There-fore, fishermen should follow the guidelines for theproper release of hooked turtles, and should keepproper records of interactions, which can be givento appropriate government departments. Also, set-ting the longline deep and not using squid for bait willsignificantly reduce the chances of catching turtles.

SPC is being proactive (not wanting to wait for theproblem to come to our region), by informinggovernments, raising fishermens’ awareness andassisting training providers. A small brochure hasbeen developed, which is available to governmentsand fishing companies. Furthermore, guidelinesfor releasing hooked turtles alive have been pro-duced on A-4-sized laminated cards for use aboardfishing vessels. A set of pocket-sized laminatedcards for identifying turtles is also under produc-tion. In Hawaii, fishermen must attend a protected

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 3species workshop before their can renew theirfishing license. It has been suggested that a similartraining workshop be part of the ongoing fisheriestraining within the Pacific Islands region. (Thismay add a half-day to the current training pro-grammes.) Many delegates agreed that it would beuseful to have a training package produced anddistributed to maritime and fisheries training insti-

Fishermen should followthese guidelines for the proper release

of hooked turtles, and should keep proper records of interactions

Samples of SPC’s pocket-sized laminated cards for identifying turtles

tutions in the region, and resolved that the SPCFisheries Training Section should develop the train-ing material.

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 20034

Conservation through cooperation – the seabird bycatch issue in NewZealandBy Alec Woods, New Zealand School of Fisheries

Over the last year, an alliance of fishing industrygroups, government agencies, environmental or-ganisations and other interested parties under thename of Southern Seabird Solutions, has been theguiding force behind a quiet revolution to reduceseabird bycatch in the trawl and longline fisheries.While companies such as Solander Fisheries, San-ford and Sealord have been active for years inseeking to reduce incidental seabird capture, theseand other stakeholders now realise that not onlydoes New Zealand need to develop its own mitiga-tion measures, it also needs to share these modelswith the international fishing community.

New Zealand and its offshore islands can rightlylay claim to being the albatross and petrel capital ofthe world. The waters and offshore islands supportmore species of these global travellers than any-where else in the world, yet here lies the problem.

Although these birds breed in New Zealand wa-ters, they spend much of their lives in other partsof the world. Albatrosses and petrels have learnedto follow fishing vessels for food, unaware of therisks of becoming caught on baited hooks or entan-gled in fishing gear. They may accidentally becaught by any vessel, anywhere, that does not useseabird-safe fishing practices.

For this reason, Southern Seabird Solutions be-lieves that cooperative, international programmesto reduce the number of seabirds caught during thecourse of fishing is the most effective way ofconserving these species. Believing that best prac-tice must start at home, New Zealand fishingcompanies have been encouraging their fishermento develop mitigation methods. As John Bennett,longliner skipper with Sanford Ltd comments,“There is no single solution to seabird mitigation,as each species, in different areas, behaves differ-ently at various times of the day and year. It’simportant to recognise and understand this.” Ben-nett believes a vessel must have and use a range ofmitigation techniques and that should be devel-oped and fine-tuned daily. The best mitigationdevice, he believes, is a “can do” attitude.

The best person to convince a fisherman to changehis ways is another fisherman. Not only doesSouthern Seabird Solutions champion fishers whoare leaders and innovators in mitigation tech-niques, it is currently implementing a range ofprojects that it believes will make a difference. Two“sister ship” programmes are in the planning stage.New Zealand crew will be exchanged with crewfrom South Africa and Chile so that practices toreduce seabird capture are shared with nationsfishing within the foraging range of New Zealandseabird species. The Regional Fishers Forum isbeing promoted as a means of encouraging “fisherto fisher” dialogue, along the lines of the Interna-tional Fishers Forum, (www.fishersforum.org). Themulti-stakeholder alliance model, which has beensuch a success in New Zealand, is being exported toother interested countries and shows promise as atool to meet further seafood industry challenges.

Recently, “bird bafflers” were installed on hoki trawlers inorder to reduce seabird interaction in this fishery

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 5In both Australia and New Zealand, Seabird/Fisheries Advisory Officers are working alongsideskippers and crew to promote awareness and seeknew ways of avoiding seabird capture. A capsule-setting device, invented by New Zealand fisher,Dave Kellian, and which can set baited hooks 10metres under water, is currently being trialled inAustralia. A video about Southern Ocean seabirdsand the threats they face from accidental capture inthe course of fishing, is being produced in bothEnglish and Spanish. Although the video willfeature interviews with New Zealand skippers, andhighlight the methods they use, it will also empha-sise that New Zealand does not have all the solu-tions. Hopefully it will encourage fishers in south-ern American and African waters, where NewZealand albatrosses and petrels spend so much oftheir time, to seek effective ways to reduce seabirdbycatch in their own fisheries.

Fishing industry trainers met recently in Welling-ton to develop effective strategies for trainingvessel crew as well as new recruits to the industry.The has been training vessel crew, briefing themon the Codes of Practice for specific fisheries, andencouraging them to find their own solutions tothe seabird bycatch problem. An integrated line-weighting trial, funded by the International Asso-ciation of Antarctic Tour Operators, was success-fully run last year. The trial is a model for the sortof “win-win” partnership that will hopefully gotowards reducing seabird bycatch. Recently, “birdbafflers” were installed on hoki trawlers in order toreduce seabird interaction in this fishery. Thesestrategies represent a general overview of the meas-ures being taken to find a solution to the seabirdbycatch problem.

Southern Seabird Solutions’ experience has high-lighted the need for fishers worldwide to takeresponsibility for developing a range of mitigationmeasures that are effective. The New Zealandexperience shows that responsible fishing is thekey. By providing a vessel that is professionallymanaged and operated, the unintentional captureof seabirds is a problem that can be resolved.

New ways of avoiding seabird capture are being trialledin both Australia and New Zealand,


no “silver bullet”, no single solution or cure-all.Innovation, coupled with careful observation, isneeded to turn good ideas into practical mitigationtechniques. Who better to lead the way than fish-ermen — the group who stand the most to lose ifsolutions are not found.

The New Zealand fishing industry has two areaswhere protected species are adversely affected byfishing activities: seabirds, marine mammals (seals,sealions and dolphins) and turtles. The Seafood

Industry Training Or-ganisation has developeda unit standard in boththese areas and key stake-holder groups such as theHoki and Squid Manage-ment Companies, theLing Longline Group,and Tuna NZ are sup-porting companies to

train their crew in these unit standards. It takes oneday to deliver both units and this can take place onthe vessel, in port, or at the School of Fisheries.

Both units are somewhat similar. Fishers are askedto consider the consequence of incidental bycatchof protected species to the marine ecosystem, thefisheries as a whole, and the economic operation ofthe vessel they work on. Then, the legislationprotecting these protected species is consideredand penalties and sanctions outlined. The unitsalso examine current methods used to reduce inci-dental bycatch, safe seabird handling techniques,and recording and reporting requirements. Afterthis, the discussion focuses fishers’ own experiences,what they currently practice on their vessel, wherethey see problems, and what possible solutions theremight be. At the end of the training, fishers are leftwith no doubt that it is they who have the respon-sibility for providing these solutions. After all, theywill be the losers if a fishery is closed down.

The Nelson Seabird WorkshopBy Alec Woods, New Zealand School of Fisheries

In July 2002, the Nelson Seabird Workshop re-solved to set up an organisation to tackle the issueof incidental bycatch of seabirds in fisheries. A brieflook at the list of participants is interesting becauseit highlights the need to reconcile the viewpoints ofa variety of groups if a way forward is to be found.

The group included key fishing organisations suchas Moana Pacific, Solander Fisheries, Sealord andNZ Longline Ltd, Sanford and Tuna NZ Ltd.Government organisations were represented bythe Ministry of Fisheries,the Department of Con-servation, the Ministry ofForeign Affairs andTrade, and Australiangovernment officials. Addto this, several ecotour-ism operators, WWFNew Zealand, BirdlifeInternational, Te Ohu KaiMoana, the Seafood Industry Training Organisa-tion, and the New Zealand School of Fisheries, anda picture develops of the breadth of commitmentevident at this workshop. From this meeting cameSouthern Seabird Solutions, the organisation thathas since been responsible for keeping everyone intouch with the progress that is being made.

The New Zealand School of Fisheries is a memberof the group because it believes that training thecrew of fishing vessels (as well as those about toenter the industry) will be a key factor in reducingincidental seabird bycatch. The 1996 Fisheries Actprovides for the utilising of fisheries resourceswhile ensuring sustainability”. In achieving this,boat operators must take into account any adverseeffects of fishing on the environment, and takesteps to avoid, remedy or mitigate these effects.Crew training is a vital ingredient because those atthe front line stand the best chance of developingworkable solutions. Everyone agrees that there is


The 2003 APIMTIMA meeting was a great venuefor conducting this survey and assessing the poten-tial of a regional project for the electronic network-ing of schools. The purpose of this brief survey wasto obtain:1) information on training institutions’ Internet

readiness (connectivity, email and internet ac-cess, internet/computing skills);

2) information on what the schools would like tohave on an institution website and what theyuse Internet for. This information/commentscollected will provide baseline information forevaluating the need or limited use of electronicnetworking of maritime and fishing schools.

The “Project to network Pacific Island marinetrades training schools by using Internet-basedresources” consists of allowing those interested inmarine trades to communicate, using telecommu-nications services on Internet.

The objectives of the project are to:• promote training in member countries;• provide instructors with more teaching tools; and• stimulate the exchange of ideas between vari-

ous Pacific Islands and outside marine tradestraining agencies.

The project will make full use of Internet resourcesto help schools go online. The schools will beaccessible through Internet search engines and willallow Internet surfers to find the training coursethat suits them. The pages will appear in English,and will also be aimed at training instructors. Theproject plans to set up discussion forums for allinvolved to participate in. For instance, traininginstructors preparing a class will be able to put theirtechnical queries to the forum and receive, in return,the latest information or even audiovisual aids.

The Training Section can provide technical assist-ance and advice in the following areas:

• creating homepages to present to the variousagencies;‰ creating newsgroups to ex-change ideas and advice about problems en-countered in teaching maritime trades;

• putting on Internet the information and doc-uments about training, maritime fisheries andnavigation.

The Training Section is in a position to coordinatethe project. In each participating country, a part-ner will act as administrator for one part of acommon server. Long-distance contacts, meet-ings, postal correspondence and use of the serverwill make it possible to coordinate the project;create, assess and improve the system; and makeother potential users aware of it.

Assessment of a project to network Pacific Island marine trades trainingschools by using Internet-based resourcesBy Teriihauroa Luciani, SPC fisheries Training Specialist

Pacific Island marine trades trainingschools websites:

• FSM Fisheries & Maritime Institute(Federated States of Micronesia)http://comfsm.fm/fmi/Email: [email protected]

• Ecole des Métiers de la Mer(New Caledonia)http://www.emm.ncEmail: [email protected]

• PNG Maritime College(Papua New Guinea)http://www.pngmc.ac.pgEmail: [email protected]

• Samoa PolytechnicSchool of Maritime TrainingWebsite: www.sampol.edu.wsEmail: [email protected]

SPC direct web links:

• SPC Fisheries Training Sectionhttp://www.spc.int/coastfish/sections/training/Email: [email protected]

• SPC Regional Maritime Programme (RMP)http://www.spc.int/maritime/Email: [email protected]

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 20038AROUND THE TRAINING

AND EDUCATION CENTRES

Sea safety training and tuna handling for Savaii fishermen

Savaii is the largest island in the Samoan group,and is less densely populated than Upolu, wherethe capital, Apia is located. Villages are scatterednear the coast, providing easy access to inshore andoffshore fishing grounds. More than 30 smallfishing boats (alias) are commercially operatingaround Savaii, employing more than 100 fisher-men. Most of these fishermen have not attendedany formal sea safety training although most havebeen fishing for many years. The main difficultiesfor fishermen were expensive training fees andfinding accommodation in Upolu during the three-day training course.The Sea Safety Training for the Savaii fishermenwas made possible by funding from the CanadianSouth Pacific Ocean Development (C-SPOD)through the Fisheries Association DevelopmentGrant Scheme.

Sea Safety Training

Sea Safety Training was conducted by three lectur-ers from the School of Maritime Training at theSamoa Polytechnic, at the Agricultural complex at

Salelologa, Savaii. The course ran three days andcovered nine units. These units included BasicFirst Aid, Safety Survival, Distress and EmergencySituation, Sea to Base Communications, CorrectProcedures when Abandoning a Fishing Vessel,Distress Signal, Fire Prevention and Control onBoard a Fishing Vessel, Engine Failure and Gener-al Deck Safety.

Using orange smoke signals from a life raft

Two trainees firing red flares

David Asi (Samoa Polytechnic) teachingsea survival to Savaii fishermen


Acknowledgement

The president of the Savaii Fishermen Association,on behalf on the fishermen who attended thetraining, thanks C-SPOD for funding, which madethe safety training possible. He also thanks theSamoa Polytechnic for allowing the venue of thetraining to be moved to Savaii. A big thank you isdue to Michel Blanc, who did a good job on thefinal day of the workshop. And finally, the presi-dent expresses gratitude to the Fisheries Divisionfor coordinating and handling the administrativework for the training.

Fish Handling

Michel Blanc, SPC’s Fisheries Training Adviser,delivered a presentation on all aspects of what afisherman should do when handling tuna on boarda small fishing vessel.

He covered a wide spectrum of material, includinghow to tie a tuna’s lower jaw and the throat toprevent the fish from bending; most fishermencomplained that exporters in Apia were rejectingtheir fish because of this bending.

There was also a demonstration on killing, bleeding,gilling and gutting tunas. Most of the fishermenwere interested in this demonstration and con-firmed it was a good refresher for their waning skills.

Wearing a life-jacket is not great for swimmingbut it can save lives

SPC Fisheries Training Adviser showing the spiking spotduring tuna handling workshop

Group of trainees ready for the big jump!

Training consisted of classroom lectures, videosand practical demonstrations. A total of 20 fisher-men attended the training. Four main issues wereemphasized during the training:

• Safety of fishermen• Safety of property• Cost of search and rescue operations• The Safety Certificate is a passport for employment.

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 200310NEWS FROM FSM FISHERIES MARITIME INSTITUTE

Course outline

1. Target audience: local fisherman, State Exten-sion Officers

2. Course duration: 2 weeks; 30 June to 11 July2003 (proposed)

3. Tuition fee: none4. Number of attendees: 205. Number of instructors: 2 (from FSM’s Fisher-

ies and Maritime Institute)6. General objectives: to provide attendees with

the necessary knowledge and skills that helpimprove safety at sea, outboard motor basicmaintenance, and basic GPS operation.

7. Course contents:(1) Survival techniques and safety preparation(2) Basic fire fighting(3) First aid techniques(4) Marine environments and protection(5) Fish handling and chilling(6) Financial management(7) Handheld GPS operation(8) Basic outboard motor maintenance

Local Fisherman’s Workshop in theFederated States of Micronesia

FMI has carried out the Local Fisherman’s Work-shop three times: twice in Yap, and once in Pohn-pei. The Pohnpei state government was particular-ly helpful during the workshop, and the school wasable to conduct the workshop very successfully. Itis now trying to set up another workshop in Kosraethis coming July.

FMI is now trying to improve the training systemfrom an individual module system to a two-yearcollege system that aims to acquire a maritimecertificate and AAS degree for regular students.At the same time, plan to develop the above-mentioned workshop on a regular basis everysummer for local fishermen.

Unfortunately, I will be back to Japan next month,because of termination of the first JICA project.However, JICA will dispatch another trainingexpert to FMI in the near future. Please continueto support FMI activities.

Participants in the Local Fisherman’sWorkshop during practical sessions

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 11Timetable

The 2nd Class 6 Master/Engineercourse

The completion of the 2nd Class 6 Master/Engineercourse was celebrated on 19 December 2002 witha graduation ceremony held at FSM’s Fisheries andMaritime Institute. Certificates of Completionwere issued to 16 students who successfully com-pleted the five required modules for the course.The ones who received their Certificates of Com-pletion included two students from Pohnpei, onefrom Kosrae, eight from Chuuk, and six from Yap.

The certificates were presented by Yap State Lt.Governor, the Honorable Andrew Yatilman, whowas also the guest speaker. Fourteen special awardswere given to outstanding students in each subjectfor each module. Two students received eightawards each: Nena William Jr. from Kosrae andErwin Edmond from Pohnpei. Each of the otherawardees received one or more awards.

The course commenced on 2 September 2002with 19 students. It consisted of advanced fishingmodule, basic radar operation, engineering knowl-edge, nautical knowledge, an radio telephony with

an introduction to GMDSS (Global MaritimeDistress Safety System) as applicable. Studentswho were competent in each of the module com-pleted the course; the others had to retake Class 6course.

FMI’s Fishing instructor attendstechnical training in Japan on fisheriesresources management

Training ran from 26 September to 9 November2002 under the Japanese International Coopera-tion Agency scheme, and consisted of:

(1) Practical fishing in pole-and-line, bottom gill-net, bottom longline, deep sea basket, large-scale set net, and small-scale set net;

(2) Fisheries resource management in tropicalcountries.

Japan is very advanced in the field of fisheriesmanagement, and training took place in Tokyo,Yokohama, Shiminoseki and Okinawa. The firstpart (fisheries resources management) consisted ofa group training, attended by Pacific Island coun-tries such as Fiji Islands, Tonga, Kiribati, Vanuatu,

08:00 – 12:00 13:00 – 16:01 Demonstration

30 June(Mon)

Survival techniques Fish handling and chilling Flare

01 July(Tue)

Fire fighting Fish handling and chilling Fire extinguisherFire blanket, ice, cooler box, thermometer

02 July(Wed)

First aid Financial management CPR mannequin, bandage

03 July(Thu)

Marine environments and protection

Financial management Calculators

04 July(Fri)

GPS operation GPS operation Handheld GPS

07 July(Mon)

Outboard motor basic maintenance


Outboard motors and metric tools

08 July(Tue)



09 July(Wed)



10 July(Thu)



11 July(Fri)


Closing ceremony


A different kind of training

By Caroline Nalo, Vanuatu Maritime College

uatu Maritime College to work as hospitality crewaboard the cruise liner, Pacific Sky.

Pacific Sky carries 1600 passengers and 600 crew.By the end of this year, more than 200 young ni-Vanuatu men and women will have been trainedfor employment on board.

When they join the vessel, they are on duty 12hours a day, 7 days a week, for 6 months. If theyperform well, they then have two months leave andreturn for another six-month stint. They work inthe vessel’s bars, serve in the buffet and restaurants,clean the passengers’ public rooms and cabins, andhelp out in the kitchens. It’s a busy environmentand timing is all-important. But it’s also a goodopportunity to mix with people of other national-ities, to learn about work and to gain self-confi-dence.

Pacific Sky hospitality crew must be physically fit,they must never be late. They need to practise highstandards of cleanliness. And above all, they re-quire a sense of discipline. None of this is easy tolearn – many of the students have never worked

Samoa, Solomon Islands, and the Marshall Is-lands, as well as Belize and Haiti from the Carib-bean. The course consisted of classroom lectures,study tours of fisheries cooperatives and relatedfisheries organisations, as well as management in-formation gathering from local fishermen. Coursearrangements were handled professionally. Equal-ly impressive was the fact that fisheries manage-ment in Japan was and has been running smoothlythroughout the years.

My own training began on 14 October at Shi-monoseki University of Fisheries, and focused onstudying fish species. Practical fishing was doneafterwards at Sajima and Nagai.

The training was most appropriate and valuable. Iwould like to thank JICA and the FMI manage-ment including those whom have contributed andassisted in making and arranging this training asuccessful one.

(Tioti B. Teburea/Fishing instructor)

NEWS FROM THE VANUATU MARITIME COLLEGE

Deck officers and engineers areupgraded

Captain Ann Rutherford (FNI) of Tasmania, Aus-tralia, conducted an upgrading course for deckofficers and engineers from 22–26 October onFSM’s Fisheries and Maritime Institute’s campus.The course included International Safety Manage-ment Code (ISM), Ship Safety Management Code(SSM), and Ship Operational Procedures (SOP).The topics of this course were in line with therequirements of the International Maritime Or-ganization. Participants included nine deck offic-ers and engineers from MS Micro Spirit, and threefrom FMI (Benjamin James (Instructor-Naviga-tion), Tioti Teburea (Instructor-Fishing), andMathias Ewarmai (Director-FMI)).

Up at 0500 – exercise – swim in the sea – clean-up(remember the 3-bucket system!) – shower – break-fast – parade & flag-raising – inspection – intoclass at 0745…

What is all this? It’s the first part of a normal dayfor the 46 students currently training at the Van-


before and ni-Vanuatu tend to be pretty relaxedabout time and rules.

The training is hard. While they are at College, thestudents wear uniforms. On week-days, they havelittle free time between 0500 and 2100 when thelights go out. On Saturday mornings, they cleanthe entire college. If they are not on duty and havenot been punished (just one minute’s lateness forclass earns one hour’s punishment), they are al-lowed out on Saturday afternoons and Sundays.

But their 11 weeks at the college are not just aboutdiscipline and timing. They also learn new skills.They spend the first few weeks studying personalsurvival, fire-fighting, occupational health and safe-ty and first aid. They must be competent in crowdmanagement. They are initiated into Pacific Sky’sCode of Conduct. And of course the three cateringinstructors keep them busy learning the necessaryhospitality skills.

It’s an interesting programme and a somewhatunusual one. It is also a way of creating additionalemployment for young ni-Vanuatu … and that’sreally what it’s all about.

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 200314NEWS FROM USP

Selection of participants

The selection of participants was based on individ-ual merit from preset guidelines. Emphasis wasplaced on academic qualifications, experience andnational representation.

Funding

Sixteen scholarships were available for participantsfrom Pacific Island countries outside Fiji. In thesecases, the United Nations Division of Ocean Af-fairs and Law of the Sea (UNDOALOS) met costs,including participants’ airfare, accommodation andcosts of attendance.

Responsible Fisheries in the Pacific Islands:Implementation of Post-UncedInternational Instruments

The course is a response to discussions amongPacific Island countries represented at the FirstRegional Task Force of the International WatersProgramme in Apia, Samoa in March 2001.

The course was designed through the collabora-tion of the:• United Nations Division of Ocean Affairs and

Law of the Sea UNDOALOS,• South Pacific Regional Environment Pro-

gramme (SPREP),• Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA),• Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC),• Food and Agriculture Organisation of the

United Nations (FAO), and the• University of the South Pacific (USP).

Course objectives

The primary objectives of the course are to:

• use the 1995 FAO Code of Conduct of Re-sponsible Fisheries (Code of Conduct) and itsassociated Technical Guidelines and Interna-tional Plans of Action (IPOA) to review fisher-ies management options and issues in the Pa-cific Islands region, and

Nomination procedures

Nominations were invited from all Forum Fisher-ies Agency member governments, including allrelevant government departments, the private sec-tor and non-governmental organisations. The to-tal number of participants was limited to 20, andthe most qualified and suited candidates werechosen (although some attempt was made to keepa balance on representations from different coun-tries of the region). Nominations from appropri-ately qualified and experienced females were alsoencouraged, but only one attended.

Between 2 and 13 June 2003, the InternationalOcean Institute-Pacific Islands and the MarineStudies Programme at the University of the SouthPacific conducted the Train-Sea-Coast (TSC)course on “Responsible Fisheries in the PacificIslands Region: Implementation of Post-UNCEDInternational Instruments”. Eighteen senior civilservants from the Pacific Islands region and threefisheries officials from Sri Lanka attended theintensive two-week course. Most of the regionalparticipants were senior fisheries managers, whowere joined by a naval officer, a tertiary institutionlecturer, and a USP postgraduate student.

Eighteen senior civil servants from the Pacific Islands regionand three fisheries officials from Sri Lanka attended the

intensive two-week course

Train-Sea-Coast course / Responsible Fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region:Implementation of Post-UNCED International Instruments

by Dr Joeli Veitayaki, USP (Email: [email protected])

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 15• build capacity among Pacific Island fisheries

managers, representatives from the private sec-tor and non-governmental organisations inassessing and implementing fisheries manage-ment options.

The FAO Code of Conduct for ResponsibleFisheries

The FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fish-eries was adopted in 1995. Although not legallybinding, the Code of Conduct urges all govern-ments and stakeholders to work towards the imple-mentation of responsible practices in the fisheriessector as a means of promoting food and economicsecurity and sustainable livelihoods.

This course uses the Code of Conduct as a vehicleto review arrangements and options for the man-agement of fisheries in the Pacific Islands region.Other international arrangements, such as the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea, the UN FishStocks Agreement, Harmonised Minimum Termsand Conditions, and the Niue Treaty on Cooper-ation in Fisheries Surveillance and Law Enforce-ment in the Pacific Islands region, are discussed toillustrate particular issues presented in the course.

While principally targeting oceanic fisheries, thecourse also drew the attention of fisheries managersto the potential of the Code, the associated Tech-nical Guidelines and International Plans of Actionto support fisheries management initiatives acrossthe broad spectrum of needs encountered in Pacif-ic Islands fisheries — coastal and oceanic.

The course is task-oriented and materials depend-ent, and is based on a hypothetical situation de-scribed for a small island state called Pesca. Thecourse’s six modules were taught by a team thatincluded Dr Judith Swan, Dr Nathan Evans, MrIsoa Korovulavula and Dr Joeli Veitayaki. Twoother instructors, Mr Moses Amos, and Mr PioManoa, were participants in last years course offer-ing. Ms Teresa Yeo was the technical adviser. Thecourse modules and the instructors responsible forthem are listed below:• Management Advice (Joeli Veitayaki and Nath-

an Evans)• Fisheries Management Policies, Strategies and

Plans (Judith Swan and Pio Manoa)• Management of Legal Issues (Judith Swan and

Pio Manoa)

• Stakeholder Roles (Isoa Korovulavula and Joe-li Veitayaki )

• Regulating and Monitoring Fishing Activity(Judith Swan and Moses Amos)

• Administrative Functions (Moses Amos andIsoa Korovulavula)

Course assessment

The course was very well organised and the mate-rials were well received. Sessions were lively andinteractive, with participants frequently request-ing further information to take back to their coun-tries. Special mention should be made regardingthe assistance of Ms Teresa Yeo, whose presencewas essential to instructors and students alike. Herknowledge of the needs of the course underpinnedthe smooth operation of often intense sessions, in-cluding compilation of materials and the range ofamendments made during the course, administrationand record keeping of progress and mastery tests andevaluations, and ensuring that a comprehensive courserecord was compiled by the end of the course.

Formal feedback and informal discussions indicat-ed that the course was very useful, and gave partic-ipants a new approach and sound framework forfisheries management.

For future courses, there is good reason to believethat past and current participants, together withUSP/IOI staff, were well prepared to carry outteaching and other duties subject to their availabil-ity. There also could be some interest in developingand conducting a course in Sri Lanka.


Kiribati training attachmentBy Alec woods, New Zealand School of Fisheries

The New Zealand School of Fisheries was recentlyasked by the Pacific Islands Trade and InvestmentCommission to arrange a short training attach-ment for a businessman from Kiribati.

M Ribua Co Ltd is a small, family-owned businessin Betio that sells its catch both in fresh and semi-processed form. It identified a niche for its businessby adding value through salting, drying and smok-ing, but wanted further assistance with fish smok-ing so that it could market its product to I-Kiribatiliving abroad.

Mr Mwateri Mikaere from M Ribua Co Ltd ar-rived in Nelson, early in July and spent time withsome Nelson fish smoking operations.

His first visit was to Aquafresh Products Ltd whereowner Nigel King arranged a day on preparationsfor smoking and the packaging/dispatching ofproduct that was smoked the previous night. Aqua-fresh sends smoked fish to customers all over NewZealand, so this was an introduction to the highstandards required when preparing product foreventual display on store shelves. The second daywas spent smoking the fish that had been preparedthe day before.

Mwateri also spent several hours with WarwickNeame from Solutions in Seafood, learning aboutquality issues, labelling, HACCP requirementsand export documentation. A visit to AnatokiSalmon in Golden Bay was arranged where manag-er Chris Pomeroy showed Mwateri his cold-smok-ing salmon operation. A particularly interestingfacet of this was the packaging, which used a smallTurbovac vacuum packaging unit.

On one day, Mwateri left the wharf on the vesselDorothy May for a day of fishing in Tasman Bay.Guards Seafoods, a family owned fishing compa-ny, has been fishing in New Zealand since 1827and has a fleet of five inshore vessels, a retail outletselling fresh and smoked fish, and a small export

business. After a long but successful day, Mwaterireturned, with the evening meal.

Mwateri’s last visit was to MacCure Seafoods, aspeciality fish smoking and marinating businessthat is familiar to many fishing folk from thePacific who have visited Nelson. Manager TimMasters spent time with Mwateri explaining thehigh standards of hygiene required for a fish smok-ing business that has full packhouse licence and isinvolved in the export trade.

The benefits of such an attachment cannot beoverstated. This one was hands-on at every stage sothat Mwateri could take part in the processes, andunderstand the reasons behind each requirement.Because of the importance of seafood businesses tothe Nelson community, the school was able toutilise its contacts to tailor-make a programme thatsuited the scale of operations familiar to Mwateri.Nelson is a small town so little time was wasted ontravel and introductions. In fact, many of thebusiness visited were already very familiar with theoperating conditions in the Pacific. This was aparticularly successful example of the sort of at-tachment that the New Zealand School of Fisher-ies can arrange and we wish Mwateri and hispartners all the best in their business.

NEWS FROM NEW ZEALAND

Mr Mwateri Mikaere from M Ribua Co Ltd


Compulsory courses Description

Biology of cultures species Mussel, finfish, oysters and abalone

Workplace safety in the seafood industry

First aid, safe work practices, vessel hazards, survival and fires

The aquaculture industry in New Zealand

Initial focus on the mussel and salmon industries

Introduction to seafood quality and spoilage

Seafood spoilage, hygiene, handling and quality

Use of ropes in aquaculture

Use of technology on a vessel Vessel equipment, hydraulics, pumps, filters, electrical systems, small motors, power tools, IT, Restricted Radio Telephone Operators Cert and basic cooking

Certificate in Aquaculture Technology from the Nelson MarlboroughInstitute of Technology

This programme provides students new to theaquaculture industry with:

• skills and knowledge to begin a career in theaquaculture industry,

• grounding in safe work practices and risk man-agement in the workplace,

• an appreciation of the importance of foodsafety in the seafood industry,

• an understanding of the need to care for theenvironment in marine farming, and

• an introduction to the aquaculture industry, itscareer paths and further training options.

The individual courses within the programme aresuitable for people already working within theindustry who wish to extend their knowledge andgain credits for unit standards towards severalaquaculture related national certificates.

This is a full-time, 20-week programme that in-cludes 4 weeks of work experience on a marine farm,2 weeks of work experience at a seafood processingfacility, and 14 weeks of scheduled classes.

Students who successfully complete all six coursesin the programme will receive:

• NMIT Certificate in Aquaculture technologyLevel 2

• Restricted Radio Telephone Operators Certif-icate (issued by the Ministry of EconomicDevelopment)

• Certificate of Attendance at a Survival Course(approved by the Maritime Safety Authority)

These students will also have gained enough Na-tional Qualification Framework (NQF) credits tobe eligible for the National Certificate in Seafood(Aquaculture) Level 2 (subject to final NZQAregistration of this qualification).

What are the entry requirements?

Applicants should be:• physically fit and capable of handling the work-

based training components of the programme.(A recent medical certificate from a GeneralPractioner will be required to verify this fact);

• aware that the industry is committed to a drug-and alcohol-free work environment. Because

the programme includes training in indus-try, students may be drug tested during theprogramme.

Successful applicants will be required to signa statement indicating they will meet anyemployment requirements stipulated bywork-based training employers, such as drugtesting, when they accept the offer of a place.

When is the next course?

July 2004

For further information contact :Alex WoodHead, New Zealand School of FisheriesNelson Marlborough Institute of Technology322 Hardy StreetPrivate Mail Bag 19Nelson, New ZealandPhone : +64 3 5462477Fax : +64 3 5462456Email: [email protected]


Westport Deep Sea Fishing School spreads its net with innovativetraining initiativesBy Mary McCallum

courses were out and boutique training was in. Hechallenged training providers to alter their deliveryto become boutique trainers.

That got Peter Maich to thinking, and he hasn’tlooked back since. Another aspect of his school’snew approach is the way it’s offering more work-based training programmes for the fishing industryas well as supporting fishing companies in theirtraining and modern apprenticeship programmes.

All of that doesn’t stop the West-port Deep Sea Fishing Schooldoing what it’s been doing wellfor the past 14 years. Two full-time tutors and five casuals con-duct the 20-week courses, whichtrain youngsters for employ-ment on large modern, deep-sea factory trawlers. The stu-dents learn safe sea practices aswell as processing skills.

While they’re training, the DeepSea Cadets live together in a50-room hostel called theFoc’sle, which is there to givethem a feel for what living con-ditions at sea will be like. The

cadets also spend nearly half of the course aboardship. “People skills” are emphasised as the cadetsare training for jobs that will see them working inconfined spaces for six to seven weeks at a time.

The school has a no-nonsense approach to whatmakes a good cadet. The school’s website says “theessential requirement is attitude”, and owner PeterMaich says that means cadets must have, above allelse, a determination to work hard and do well.

“Theoretically, it wouldn’t matter what we taughtthem. We could teach them to bake a cake…butthe fact is, at the end of our course, they’re drugfree, they’re fit and they have a work ethic. Whatwe want to create at the school is a culture oflearning”.

The Westport Deep Sea Fishing School — on theSouth Island of New Zealand — is a whole newbreed of training provider. While still overseeingthe 20-week, pre-employment courses at West-port, Director Peter Maich is also transforminghimself into a sort of personal trainer for fisheriestrainees. He drives 40,000 kilometres a year tohelp individuals in the fishing industry completetheir qualifications.

Peter Maich says the future offishing industry training is awayfrom block courses and back toone-on-one or small grouplearning.

“You can go to the gym andtrain by yourself or can go to thegym and have a personal trainerwho’ll make sure you do thetraining,” says Maich. He saysfishing companies are startingto use him and his staff as theirpersonal trainers to get peoplethrough their qualifications.

Maich says no job is too smallfor him. If he gets a call from afishing company asking him towork with an employee who needs a few hours ofhelp completing a unit standard, he says he wouldn’thesitate. It’s called “boutique training” and essen-tially it’s a flexible training programme tailored tothe needs of the trainee and the company involved.

“If you want an apple and I come back with awatermelon, you won’t be happy. Well, it’s thesame with the fishing industry. I am told there’sthis number of people, these subjects, this learningto be covered…and within a week I can get a courseup and running.”

Maich says he took the challenge handed out byAmaltal’s John Cleal at the end of a fishing indus-try meeting recently. He says Cleal stood up andtold everyone that as far as he was concerned, block

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 19Maich says that course graduates are productiveright away, but he emphasises to them that theywon’t know everything about the way a particularvessel works and they’ll need to be open to learningnew skills throughout their careers.

Maich has been learning a lot himself lately. He’sregularly on his computer in the middle of thenight writing up resources to match the new unitstandards developed for deckhands. Maich is cre-ating a learning programme for his school that ishalf theory and half activity-based. For example,for life raft survival techniques, the trainees get intolife rafts on the Buller River.

Barbara Johnsen, General Manager of SeafoodIndustry Training Organisation, says graduatesfrom the Westport Deep Sea Fishing School re-ceive a good introduction to deepwater fishing and

are highly regarded by fishing companies. She says,the SITO-subsidised industry training programmesundertaken by the school are also very successful.

“I’m delighted that Peter is initiating flexible in-dustry training to complement the programmes heis already running and we look forward to workingwith him to make training more accessible topeople in the fishing industry.”

Maich says access to training will become eveneasier with the development of e-training andlearning online. Over the coming months he isdeveloping his website to incorporate more andmore of those learning tools. He’s also busy devel-oping a unique approach to classroom learningthat emphasises flexibility and self-motivation.

If the requirement for a good training provider was“attitude”, then Peter Maich is certainly the rightman for the job. He’s got it in abundance.

Six, 20-week pre-sea courses are held atWestport Deep Sea Fishing School each year,beginning in the middle of the months ofJanuary, March, May, July, September andNovember. All cadets are funded by indus-try, Te Oh Kai Moana or WINZ.

Contact Perer Maich on (03) 788 8061(DDI), (03) 788 8060 (reception);E-mail: [email protected];website: www.deepsea.co.nz;for information about the 20-week coursesor to enquire about boutique training.


quences of choosing a co-management approachand the steps that can be taken when a moreparticipatory way of management is opted for willbe highlighted.

Who can participate?

The course is intended for staff of governmentdepartments and non-government organisationswith a long-standing involvement in fisheriesdevelopment (including fishermen’s organisa-tions). Typically, they will be drawn from thefollowing positions:• policy/planning staff, at national and sub-na-

tional level, with responsibility for fisheries,coastal zone management and natural aquaticresources management;

• programme/project officers with responsibili-ty for the monitoring or implementation offisheries management programmes; and

• staff working at management/coordination levelin the implementation of development projectsin coastal or lakeside communities with a fish-eries management component.

Aims and objectives

The course will give participants the opportunity to:• appraise not only the present arrangements for

fisheries management, but also the activitiesundertaken by governments and fishermen inthe participants’ countries;

• examine the relevance to fisheries managementof international agreements such as the Codeof Conduct for Responsible Fisheries;

• become familiar with co-management con-cepts, to explore their possibilities and limita-tions, and to examine their preconditions andconsequences;

• acquire and practise social and biological tech-niques relevant to the introduction of fisheriesco-management arrangements; and

• develop appropriate personal action plans fortheir particular work situations

Training methods

This interactive course is based on actual worksituations. Participants present the fisheries man-agement situations in which they work; these then

The International Agricultural Centre in Wage-ningen, Netherlands is offering a course on “Alter-native approaches to fisheries management: Therelevance of co-management” from 05 October to21 November 2003.

Course focus

The training course focuses on the management ofthe exploitation of wild aquatic resources, especial-ly fish, shrimp and shellfish stocks found in lakes,reservoirs, rivers, coastal areas and the sea. One ofthe primary tasks of fisheries management is tobalance the pressure resulting from exploitation onfish stocks and on other components of the aquaticecosystem, with the limited capacity of the naturalpopulations to compensate for the losses caused bycapture. Information about the fish and the fisher-ies is crucial for management. Aquatic resourcesare largely invisible and this makes the use ofindirect methods and complicated scientific mod-els to assess the size and nature of the fish popula-tion necessary. The conclusions from scientificresearch on natural fish populations have a certainmargin of error and uncertainty and can causeheated debates between the parties concerned.Information about the size and characteristics ofthe catch, and the effort needed to realise the catchare essential but the data collection systems areoften expensive. The information needs for re-source management, various methods to collectinformation from stakeholders and the quality ofvarious types and sources of information are im-portant topics in this training course.

Experience has shown that centrally made regula-tions and plans to manage fisheries can only sel-dom be successfully implemented and enforced atthe lowest levels, especially in countries with a largefisheries sector and limited budgets for fisheries.Decentralisation and a greater role for the resourceusers in design, implementation and enforcementare often recommended as a way forward.

The course assesses the characteristics of variousapproaches to management and links their successor failure to the characteristics of the fisheries andof stakeholders. The conditions for successful in-volvement of resource users in fisheries manage-ment (co-management) are studied. The conse-

NEWS FROM OUTSIDE THE REGION

Training course on alternative approaches to fisheries management

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 21underlie course activities. There are also lectures,workshops in small groups, role-play activities,excursions and individual work sessions. Case stud-ies are used as models to illustrate the effects andimpacts of different management approaches andpractices. Short technical excursions and a periodof fieldwork in a rural community are used toacquaint participants with the concepts of RapidRural Appraisal.

All activities lead to the formulation of individualaction plans for the enhancement of the variousorganisations represented.

Programme

The training course is organised in cooperationwith the Fisheries Section of the Fish Culture andFisheries Group of Wageningen University andthe Law and Governance Group of WageningenUniversity. The programme is composed of fourblocks:

Block 1Fisheries management: IntroductionIn the first module, the focus will be on the variousviews, objectives and approaches of the disciplinesinvolved in fisheries management. The character-istics of various fisheries systems will be discussed,and the course participants will present the mainissues and problems that affect their work.

Some of the topics in this block:• The perspectives of the biologist and the social

scientist on fisheries management• Fisheries systems and characteristics: the prob-

lem of scale• Participants’ situation and the main issues and

problems affecting their work• Approaches to fisheries management• International agreements and conventions

Block 2Fisheries co-managementFisheries co-managementFisheries co-managementFisheries co-managementFisheries co-managementIn this block, various cases of fisheries co-manage-ment will be presented and analysed. Under whatsocial and ecological/physical conditions does fish-eries co-management have the highest chance ofsucceeding? What can be done to improve theseconditions? How can a process aimed at increasingfishers’ participation in management be startedand implemented?

Some of the topics discussed in this block:• Fisheries co-management: conditions, case

studies from different regions and from differ-ent types of fisheries

• Possible roles of stakeholders in co-manage-ment

• Capacity building for fisheries management

Block 3Information: A crucial component of fisher-Information: A crucial component of fisher-Information: A crucial component of fisher-Information: A crucial component of fisher-Information: A crucial component of fisher-ies managementies managementies managementies managementies managementIn this block we will assess what information isneeded for fisheries management, how this infor-mation can be collected, analysed, presented anddistributed. What is the value of various kinds ofinformation that is present among the variousstakeholders?

Some of the topics that will be discussed:• Socioeconomic and catch/effort information needs• Variance and uncertainty in fisheries outcome• Information management and flow

Block 4Tools for fisheries managementThis block will focus on various tools and methodsfor the management of various fisheries systems.The tools deal with the collection of various typesof information, the protection of vital componentsof the aquatic ecosystem, management of conflictsand the effects of activities and developmentstaking place outside the fisheries sector.

Some of the topics to be discussed:• Conflict management• Protected and closed areas• Fisheries management as an element of Inte-

grated Area Management• Stakeholder analysis• Rapid Rural Appraisal• Problem analysis and project planning• Alternative livelihood activities for fishers

Duration: 7 weeksPeriod: 6 October - 21 November 2003Fee: • 4500 (the tuition fee includes administra-tion fees, lecture materials and, if these are part ofthe programme, excursions).Closing date for application*: 1 August 2003*Please note the changes in the NFP Fellowshipapplication procedure

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 200322Reactions from participants

• “...The subjects were all enjoyable and en-hance the understanding of fisheries co-management which is very important for ourprocess in building up collaborative fisheriesmanagement...”

• “...Well planned and scheduled programme.The team work of organisers and facilitators isinspiring...”

• “…The field programme was successful and Igained a lot of information and experience...”

• “…Topics like collective action, communitymanagement and local knowledge gave me avery good understanding of community basedmanagement. Good sequence...”

Certificate

Participants are granted a Certificate of Attendance.

Requirements for admission

Applicants should meet the following requirements:• academic degree (B.Sc. or its equivalent) in

fisheries, coastal zone management, commu-nity development, biology or social sciences;

NEWS FROM SPC Regional Maritime Programme (RMP)

Manage Vessel ConditionFrom 24 November to 12 December 2003 at SPC Nabua, Fiji Islands.

• at least three years of relevant professionalexperience in government, NGO or donoragencies at policy or project level in fisheriesmanagement (research, extension and train-ing), development of coastal or lakeside com-munities, in aquatic resource use issues; orclosely related subjects;

• competence in the English language.

Further information and application

Further information and application forms can beobtained from the address below.

International Agricultural Centre (IAC)P.O. Box 88, 6700 AB WageningenThe NetherlandsTelephone: + 31 317 495 495Telefax: + 31 317 495 395Email: [email protected]: www.iac.wageningen-ur.nl

This course will deliver a scaled back version of theNew Zealand Manage Vessel Condition course asper the following syllabus. The intention is tocover the entire syllabus but to not go as deeply intoeach area as is done in NZ.

1. Determine, evaluate and respond to vesselstructure and condition.

1.1 Identifies cycles for inspection of vessel struc-ture and equipment in accordance with typ-ical deterioration and damage probabilities.Areas for inspection will include:tanks, plating, framing, weathertight/water-tight closures, cargo equipment, lifesavingand firefighting equipment, voids, holds, ac-commodation areas

1.2 Identifies the symptoms and causes of com-mon failures and problems associated with

particular structure, designs and equipmentin accordance with guidelines for inspectingstructure.(a) Failures and problems to include corro-

sion, stress concentrations, fractures andcracking, buckling.

(b) Structure to include plating, framing, con-nections, sealing mechanism, tanks, holds,areas where dissimilar metals are present,vents and air pipes, rails.

(c) Designs to include multi-purpose, bulkcarriers, single and double hull tankers,ro-ro vessels.

(d) Equipment to include derricks, cranes, pumps,lifesaving and firefighting equipment.

1.3 Evaluates the significance and risk to thevessel of failures and problems in structure

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 2003 23and equipment in accordance with acceptedprinciples.(a) Includes vessel safety, maintenance of clas-

sification and SOLAS certification andsatisfying port state inspections.

1.4 Evaluates appropriate actions to optimise ves-sel safety in the event of reported structuralfailures/problems.(a) Actions may include those of seamanship,

damage control, emergency repair.

1.5 Discusses procedures and precautions to main-tain the safety of personnel involved duringthe inspection and evaluation of condition.(a) Maintenance of safety includes entry to

enclosed spaces procedure, lighting, pro-tective clothing and apparatus.

2. Plan and implement vessel maintenanceprogrammes.

2.1 Develops vessel maintenance procedures andcycles for structure and equipment.(a) Maintenance areas of the vessel include

exterior hull, deck, tanks including oiland ballast, holds, watertight/weathertightclosures, cargo equipment including der-ricks and cranes,

(b) Maintenance includes repair, replacement,lubrication, preparation for coating, ap-plication of coatings.

2.2 Develops systems for ensuring the mainte-nance programme for the vessel’s condition ismaintained in accordance with requirementsfor ISM, Port State inspection, SOLAS certi-fication and requirements of Class.

2.3 Develops maintenance plans that identify andallocate personnel, equipment and consumablesrequired for the maintenance programme inaccordance with the manning scale, safetyrequirements, other vessel operations,limitations on working hours and budget.

2.4 Monitors the maintenance plan and updatesit to maintain currency in accordance withvessel requirements.

2.5 Completes vessel maintenance records andreports in accordance with vessel and operatorrequirements.

(a) Records of vessel maintenance may includeuse of labour, consumables, completions.

2.6 Operates computer based planned mainte-nance programmes in accordance with man-ufacturer’s instructions and vessel operatorrequirements.

2.7 Develops and conducts training and pre/postoperation briefings to optimise safety andefficiency during maintenance operations.

2.8 Develops procedures that ensure the safety ofpersonnel conducting maintenance activitiesis maintained.

2.9 Develops systems that ensure deck stores tosupport maintenance and survey requirementsare obtained, checked and stored in a timelymanner in accordance with vessel operatorrequirements, including:(a) budget(b) authorisation to incur expenditure(c) requisition procedures(d) inventory management

2.10 Explains systems for ensuring that the follow-ing equipment and consumables are used inmaintenance operations according to typicalmanufacturers instructions:(a) use of scaling machines(b) sandblasting equipment(c) barrier coatings which include bitumen,

epoxy, chromate and polyurethane(d) grease(e) spray painting systems

3. Plan and prepare for class and certificationsurveys.

3.1 Identifies in accordance with industry re-quirements the timing and extent of surveysrequired to maintain class and certificationwhich will include:(a) those surveys required for issue of first and

new certificates(b) those surveys required to maintain con-

tinued validity of existing certificates

3.2 Identifies the coverage of surveys required tomaintain class and certification. Coveragewill include the following surveys

SPC Fisheries Education and Training Information Bulletin #20 - August 200324(a) Loadline(b) Cargo equipment(c) SOLAS certificates(d) Port State(e) Classification

3.3 Develops procedures to minimise the numberof deficiencies identified during a survey. Theprocedures will include:(a) prior inspection to identify deficiencies(b) prior repairs(c) presentation of equipment to surveyor(d) assistance and cooperation offered to sur-

veyor

3.4 Develops survey schedules that ensure certifi-cation is gained/maintained and minimisesthe number of surveys conducted.

4. Determine and report nature and extent ofdamage.

4.1 Determines the nature and extent of damageto the vessel following an incident.

4.2 Develops procedures to maintain the safety ofpersonnel involved in determining damage.

4.3 Completes damage reports in a timely, clearand concise manner consistent with the cause,nature and extent of the actual damage deter-mined.(Completed reports should identify structurefrom plans and drawings including shell ex-pansion plans where appropriate.)

5. Prepare for and manage dry docking andrepair activity.

5.1 Prepares and submits for approval dry-docklists in a timely manner and in accordancewith vessel operator requirements.

5.2 Develops procedures to ensure that essentialitems on repair lists and supplementary repairsare completed within budget allocations.

This will include:(a) prioritisation of work(b) requests for additional financial allocations

5.3 Determines that the trim, draught and stabil-ity on docking is adjusted to ensure vesselsafety and the requirements of the dock mas-ter are complied with.

5.4 Identifies typical responsibilities of the ship,dock master and contractors in accordancewith standard docking terms/conditions andactual contracts in place.

5.5 Develops procedures for docking a vessel thatensure:(a) activities under the supervision or respon-

sibility of ship’s personnel are planned,coordinated, monitored and reviewed toensure completion within timeframes andminimum interference with other workactivity

(b) the safety of personnel under the supervi-sion of ship’s staff is maintained

(c) safety of the vessel is maintained duringany activity under the responsibility ofship’s staff during docking, maintenanceand repair activity

(d) repair activities effected under the re-sponsibility of the ship are completed inaccordance with requirements of class,vessel operator and statutory authorities

(e) the vessel integrity is verified and vesselcondition returned to required trim,draught and stability prior to refloating,including the insertion of docking plugsand through hull fittings and the closureof all tanks

(f) records and reports are maintained andsubmitted in accordance with vessel oper-ator requirements

For more information on the course, contact theSPC Regional Maritime Programme.Email: [email protected]

PIMRIS is a joint project of four international organisationsconcerned with fisheries and marine resource development inthe Pacific Islands region. The project is executed by theSecretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), the SouthPacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the University of theSouth Pacific's Pacific Information Centre (USP-PIC), andthe South Pacific Applied Geoscience Commission (SOPAC).This bulletin is produced by SPC as part of its commitmentto PIMRIS. The aim of PIMRIS is to improve the availability

of information on marine resources to users in the region, so asto support their rational development and management. PIM-RIS activities include: collection, cataloguing and archiving oftechnical documents, especially ephemera (“grey literature”);evaluation, repackaging and dissemination of information;provision of literature searches, question-and-answer servicesand bibliographic support; and assistance with the develop-ment of in-country reference collections and databases onmarine resources.

Pacific Islands MarineResources Information System

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