Businesses based in the South West involved with the catching, preparation or sale of seafood are invited to take advantage of specialist, funded training programmes in Seafood Quality, Fish Filleting and Fish Mongery taking place next month in Devon and Dorset, organised by Seafood Cornwall Training.

As part of the Regional Skills Project, supported by South West Food and Drink, the three Seafish accredited programmes will be offered locally, during March, at substantially subsidised rates to any business or individual based in the South West.

Download course info;  seafoodtrainingmarch.pdf

Sarah Crosbie, Manager of Seafood Cornwall Training, explained, "These one day courses are aimed at anyone involved in the seafood supply chain, from the ‘catcher to the chef', who wishes to develop their skills and expertise.With training costs heavily subsidised by South West Food and Drink, these accredited courses offer the region's employers an excellent opportunity to improve productivity, performance and product quality as well as helping to reduce wastage, increase sales and ensure customer loyalty. This program of training will create greater depth and breadth of expertise across the sector, adding real value to the regions catch."

Basic Seafood Quality Assessment
Funded Fee:£50 (normal fee £150)
The one day Seafood Quality course is delivered by Adrian Barratt the Seafish national lead trainer in fish quality assessment. The course delivers a mix of theory and practice on the assessment of whitefish and flatfish, providing candidates with the skills to confidently asses and record the freshness and quality of fresh fish.

Subject areas covered during the day include: effects of temperature on fish spoilage; the mechanisms and effects of spoilage; methods of assessing fish for quality; assessment schemes - EU, TORRY, QIM; and how fish quality relates to acceptability. The afternoon's practical session will involve the practical application of QIM and TORRY schemes to samples provided.

Fish Filleting
Funded Fee: £75 (normal fee £200)
The Fish Filleting course, delivered by Seafish Approved Trainer Annie Sibert, focuses on developing the essential knife skills required to prepare a variety of round and flat fish as well as pelagic species. Techniques taught and assessed on the day include; head off and trim; skinning; steaking; cross cut and single fillets.

Fish Mongery
Funded Fee: £50 (normal fee £150)
The Introduction to Fish Mongery course is also delivered by Annie Sibert and topics include; an overview of the seafood industry; customer service and sales techniques; a review of knife skills; seafood quality assessment as well as a practical session in the afternoon preparing a fish counter display.

All the one day courses are certified by Seafish.

Devon course dates will be held at South Devon College in Paignton:
Introduction to Seafood Quality - Tuesday 8th March
Fish Filleting - Tuesday 15th March
Introduction to Fishmongery - Wednesday 16th March

Dorset course dates will be held at Kingston Maurward College, Dorchester:
Introduction to Seafood Quality - Tuesday 29th March
Fish Filleting - Tuesday 22nd and Wednesday 30th March
Introduction to Fish Mongery - Wednesday 23rd March

Pablo Munoz, Managing Director of the Cornish fish processing company, Iceberg Ltd, sent three employees onto the fish filleting course and commented, "Our employees found the course very informative and gained a thorough grounding in the skills required for efficient fish filleting. We look forward to attending more courses run by Seafood Cornwall Training in the near future."

Tamsin Hoskin, owner of Fishey Gils, who has recently established her business selling fish door to door in West Cornwall, attended the Fish Mongering and Fish Filleting courses and commented, "The courses were brilliant. I have improved my techniques to prepare fish as well as gaining more confidence. In turn my customers have benefited from the increase in my knowledge and I am seeing a growth in repeat customers and recommendations as a result."

The courses are all supported by South West Food & Drink (SWFD), to aid the development and raise the standards of the shore based, seafood sector, across Devon and the South West.

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. The first courses in Cornwall went really well so now the Devon sector has the opportunity to benefit from these courses."

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. 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."

For further information about the course dates, cost of courses and further details please contact Sarah Crosbie on 01736 364324