Registration increases for fishery safety skills program
Gail Harding | CBC News | Posted: April 10, 2016 7:03 PM | Last Updated: April 10, 2016
Fishermen required by Transport Canada to take courses to work in industry
The number of people registering to take safety skills programs so they can work in Prince Edward Island's fishing industry increased this year.
Fisheries Skills program co-ordinator Melissa Pitre said while the program receives a provincial subsidy through Skills PEI for up to 165 participants, registration reached 220.
"Each year with people leaving P.E.I. to go out west, other places to work, we struggled to keep the funding because the numbers weren't there, but now they're back. It was great for this year and hopefully next year we have a great turnout as well," said Pitre.
Transport Canada requires fishermen to have the courses. There are 13 courses including marine emergency duties and radio operator certification.
They are offered at a discount through fishermen's associations across P.E.I.
The safety skills program was held at the Holland College Marine Training Centre in Summerside, P.E.I.
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