Seafood Cornwall Training, based in Newlyn, has secured £26,650 of new funding to provide specialist training programs in Fish Filleting, Fish Mongery and Seafood Quality, to aid the development of the shore based, seafood sector, across the South West.

The funding from South West Food & Drink (SWFD) will enable a wide range of individuals and businesses from across the region, from catchers to chefs, the opportunity to access subsidised skills training to add greater value to the South West catch.

There will be four programs on offer; An Introduction to Fish Mongering; Fish Filleting; Seafood Quality Assessment; and Advanced Seafood Quality Assessment. All courses will be certified by Seafish, led by Seafish Approved Instructors and will be delivered across Cornwall, Devon and Dorset over the next year until August 2011.

Anyone based in the South West involved in the catching, preparing, processing, marketing, selling or distributing fish will be able to access training at 50% of the normal cost.

Sarah Crosbie, Manager of Seafood Cornwall Training, explained, "We would like to thank South West Food and Drink for addressing the demonstrable gap in funding for developing skills in the seafood sector. Given the importance and scale of the Seafood Industry to the South West in terms of employment, skills and output, it is essential that everyone involved in the supply chain, from the catcher to the chef, has access to local, specialist training, in order to bring the industry in line with the land-based component of the Food and Drink sector".

Simon Mallet, Regional Skills Manager for South West Food & Drink, commented: "Whilst the land-based sector have access to public funding for skills training at this important, practical level, there is very little equivalent funding available to the seafood industry. This project aims to fill that gap. Sarah and her team have worked hard to develop this programme so quickly and I'm really pleased that the first people will be benefiting from the training in the next couple of months. The courses will enable the seafood industry workforce to add real value to their product through improved skills - not additional outlay on capital equipment or labour. In difficult times for businesses improved skills represent a cost effective method of improving productivity."

The four courses on offer can be completed independently or as a block and will be delivered in Cornwall, Devon and Dorset commencing in Cornwall during October.

Annie Sibert, Seafood Skills Program Leader for Seafood Cornwall Training commented, "Coming from a fishing family and as a fishmonger myself by trade, I am passionate about seafood. These specialist courses enable people to become more confident in their abilities to accurately assess the quality of fish as well as competently fillet different types of fish to a high standard. I would recommend these courses to anyone wishing to enhance and develop their skills; we can work with complete beginners as well those wishing to diversify or add value to their business."

Seafish's Training Accreditation Manager, Simon Potten, said: "Having developed the courses, we are delighted that Seafood Cornwall Training has managed to secure funding to deliver them in the South West. The skills obtained in these courses will be a real boost for the region's seafood industry."

For further information about the course dates, cost of courses and further details please contact Sarah Crosbie on 01736 364324 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

All images courtesy of the Seafish Industry Authority.