Seafish to host Man Overboard Awareness events across UK

Fishermen are being urged to sign-up to training events aimed at saving lives and preventing serious incidents at sea. 

Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, will hold its popular Man Overboard Awareness sessions across late-winter and spring in Lowestoft, Aberdeen and South Shields. 

The events are part of a national programme of fully funded safety training designed to reduce the risk of man overboard incidents - the single biggest cause of workplace fatalities in the commercial fishing sector. 

Seafish’s Man Overboard Awareness sessions provide participants with first-hand experience of emergency scenarios in a controlled environment. 

Participants will encounter realistic in-water exercises that simulate challenging sea conditions, including wind, rain and wave effects to raise awareness of the dangers and reinforce effective safety practices.  

Throughout the day, attendees will learn about the causes of falling overboard, prevention strategies and how to improve their chances of survival if an incident occurs.  

Practical sessions include jumping into the water in work clothing and oilskins with and without a personal flotation device (PFD), practising getting into a life raft and using ladders and rescue lines. 

Seafish Fishermen’s Training Advisor Lee Haigh said: “Man Overboard Awareness events give fishermen the experience and confidence they need to understand just how quickly a routine moment can become life-threatening at sea.  

“This training is about saving lives and showing crews not only how to respond but, crucially, how to prevent such incidents from happening in the first place.” 

There is no cost to attend these events, with delivery funded by Seafish. 

Seafish will also reimburse reasonable travel and subsistence costs for participants.  

Spaces for the venues are limited and early booking is recommended.

The events will be held at:  Lowestoft’s East Coast College on February 25th. 3T training services, Dyce, Aberdeen on March 17th, 18th and May 6th and South Shields’ Marine School on April 1st. 

For further details and to book a place, interested individuals should contact the Seafish training team at training@seafish.co.uk or call the relevant organiser listed on the Seafish website at Man Overboard Awareness Events | Seafish 

ENDS