Funding support for the GTAs

Following a series of face to face meetings with Group Training Associations (GTAs) and other training organisations as part of our consultation of the best implementation of our future funding to support delivery of training, we drafted formal conditions for organisations receiving Seafish funding in future.

The Funding Agreement can now be viewed here.

Detailed below is the solicitor's response to the query about the Fisheries Act which was raised at the meeting on 4 February 2008.

The Fisheries Act 1981 , at section 3 (1) (b),  empowers the SFIA to "provide training in [from subsection (1) any matters relating to the sea fish industry] or to assist in the provision of such training by making grants or by exercising supervisory or co-ordinating functions" and , at section 14 (2), provides that  "for the purposes of" [the Part of the Act that includes section 3  "the sea fish industry" means the sea fish industry in the United Kingdom and a person shall be regarded as engaged in the sea fish industry if --

(a) he carries on the business of operating vessels for catching or processing sea fish or sea fish products, being vessels registered in the United Kingdom; or

(b) he carries on the United Kingdom the business of breeding, rearing or cultivating sea fish for human consumption, of selling sea fish or sea fish products by wholesale or retail, of buying sea fish or sea fish products by wholesale, of importing sea fish or sea fish products or of processing sea fish (including the business of a fish frier).

In section 3 (2) of the Act it is provided that "sea fish" means fish of any kind found in the sea, including shellfish and subject to section 4 (8) (a) above [which states that for levy purposes parts of sea fish are not sea fish but are sea fish products] any part of such fish but does not include salmon or migratory trout."

The above is the basis of the power of the Authority to give any "grant" at all ever, relative to training.

The expression "sea fish industry" has a clear statutory basis and answers the question: For vocational training for what industry may the SFIA lawfully give a grant?  The expression "seafood" is a popular expression existing outside the Act and does not answer any questions. On the contrary, it raises them: is migratory trout seafood, what about the non-fish content of a seafood cocktail, etc.? 

The substitution of "seafood "for "sea fish" would break the link with the Act and thereby cause misrepresentation (e.g. in Background (A) and false attribution (see the definitions, on page 4, of "Seafood Industry" and "Seafood Industry Training".

The word "seafood" did feature in the draft I sent you, in (C) of the Background. That use (on three occasions) was harmless and cosmetic. It was not a statement about the Act, or SFIA's powers, nor was it a component of a Condition. It was just a statement of intention - an intention that could in fact be met (only) in so far as the "seafood" in question actually did in fact fall within the statutory definition of "sea fish".

Training
Seafish works closely with the seafood industry to identify training needs at management and operative level. We have developed a broad range of training materials and courses to meet many of the needs of people working in the onshore sectors of the industry. These range from training videos to nationally recognised qualifications, so it is highly likely we have the right training for you and your staff. See below for more details, or click on the specific sections in the menu to your left.

Seafish have established the Seafood Training Academy with other partners in the seafood industry to bring additional opportunities in learning and training. To find out more about the Seafood Training Academy visit their website at www.seafoodacademy.org.

Courses and advice
Seafish are able to offer a wide range of seafood specific training courses, qualifications and learning materials for all parts of the seafood industry.  Whether training is delivered as part of a Seafish approved course or through a Seafish open learning module, you can be confident it has been developed with the full support and participation of seafood industry businesses. To download information leaflets on many of our courses and programmes see the courses and advice section.

Seafish and our Group Training Association (GTA) network are able to offer seafood businesses a free diagnosis of what your training needs are. Contact us for more information. 

Careers
The oceans of opportunity CD seeks to promote exciting and worthwhile careers to young people with the potential to become the future managers, owners and entrepreneurs in the seafood industry. For a free copy of the oceans of opportunity pack and CD please contact the training team by calling 01482 327837 or email training@seafish.co.uk. Our careers page also contains information on careers in various seafood sectors.

Group Training Associations (GTAs)
Our training is rolled out cost-effectively through a UK network of local Group Training Associations (GTAs). Each GTA can organise training throughout the UK where and when it is needed.  To find your nearest GTA look on the Group Training Association page.

National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (NVQ/SVQs)
National and Scottish Vocational Qualifications (NVQ/SVQs) are UK recognised qualifications awarded to trainees who have been able to demonstrate competence in their occupation. They are developed and promoted by the appropriate Sector Skills Council.

Hygiene and Food Safety
Hygiene and HACCP are vital to all parts of the seafood industry.  With a wide range of training programmes and support for several European languages we may well have the course you are looking for. For more information visit our hygiene and HACCP training page.

Seafood Quality
We provide training in the Quality Index Method and the ‘Torry’ system of measuring fish quality. For more information visit our seafood quality page.

For Processors, Mongers and Fish Friers
These pages provide guidance on those specific training programmes and materials we feel are appropriate to each sector.  If you as a Fish Frier, Fishmonger or a Processor then visit the appropriate page (see the menu to the left) for detailed information on what is available from Seafish.

Downloads table
In the below table is the information that Seafish have available to download regarding training and careers. If you have any queries that you can't find an answer for contact us.

Careers advice for fish friers (PDF/Word).	Fish frying skills course (PDF/Word).
Careers advice for retailers (PDF/Word).	Fishmongering course (PDF/Word).
Careers advice for processors (PDF/Word).	Health & safety and hygiene training (PDF).
Careers and advice for caterers (PDF/Word).	Training price list - onshore (PDF/Word).
Customer service skills qualification (PDF/Word).	Training price list - offshore (PDF/Word).
Fish filleting course (PDF/Word).	Training price list - offshore outside EU (PDF/Word).