The FISH Platform aims to influence a more positive safety culture, and one of the ways we do this is to have working groups to explore issues and propose solutions that can then support and influence our participants, countries and international organisations. Get in touch if you want to use your expertise and get involved.
The International Fund for Fishing Safety (IFFS) was set up by FISH Platform, Lloyd’s Register Foundation and The Seafarers’ Charity to fund practical improvements in safety led by fishing organisations on the ground, primarily in the Global South and among smaller-scale fishers.
Working Group: Data Standardization
The Data Standardization Group (active) is considering a common reporting framework for the commercial fishing industry around the world that will allow for comparison between countries and fisheries in determining safety. The project has a focus on using data that is available in all maritime countries.
Working Group: Stability
The Stability Working Group (active) is developing a common approach to improving the stability of commercial fishing vessels. This project informs the FISH Platform of ways in which members may work together in improving stability, including technical standards and training standards.
Working Group: The STCW Revision
Which is of importance to the FISH Platform as STCW is the basis of many fishers’ basic safety training, in particular with regard to First Aid, Personal Survival Techniques, and Fire Prevention and Fire Fighting. This working group wants to ensure that this STCW basic safety syllabus remains aligned with the revised STCW-F with the intention of maintaining sufficient similarities to enable the qualifications to allow for easy transference between merchant and fishing.
Working Group: Functional Fishing Vessels Construction Standards
Fishing Vessels over 24 metres in length are included in the IMO Torremolinos convention and protocol and, latterly, the Cape Town Agreement. However, the absence of internationally ratifiable standards for the construction and safety of smaller fishing vessels is a pressing issue. Although guidance has been published, it is technical and hard to apply to many fisheries and this group is looking at solutions.
Working Group: Substance Abuse
Looking at how to better understand and address the cases of substance abuse on fishing vessels and investigate ways to tackle this issue internationally. The scope of the project should include all substances, legal and illegal, that could impact a fisher’s health, safety, and well-being.
Working Group: Safety of Navigation in and near Offshore Wind Sites
With the prevalence of offshore wind and soon floating offshore wind, the FISH Platform decided it would be helpful to develop a guidance document to address safety concerns arising from navigation in and near offshore renewable energy sites, particularly Offshore Wind Sites. Concerning topics such as radar operations, lookouts, and breakdown or rescue occurrences were identified for debate and guidance.
Working Group: STCW-F Model Courses
With the comprehensive review of STCW-F receiving approval from MSC 108, the FISH Platform has suggested that it would be beneficial to have a range of model courses to support the different ways in which countries can deliver fishermen’s training in compliance with the syllabus. Experts in this group must have good knowledge of STCW and STCW-F training and experience in the education and safety of fishers. Transferability of skills including navigation, and the transferability of sea going service between STCW and STCW-F will contribute to increasing the attractiveness of the fishing industry with this revision.
The FISH Platform proposed the syllabus that was accepted in the revised STCW-F and is, therefore, in a good position to develop the model courses.