FREE courses for would be professional fishermen will be introduced at Coleg Llandrillo.

The three week long courses, which have been created by Seafish, the industry authority on seafood, will be held at the college’s Rhos-on-Sea campus with practical sessions on the Menai Straits, and will start at the beginning of the next academic year in September.

The fully-funded courses will prepare students for work as a commercial fisherman by providing a snapshot of what’s involved in the day-to-day work of a fisherman at sea. They are designed to suit both youngsters, who are looking for a career at sea, and older candidates who want a career change and are interested in commercial fishing.

They will include basic firefighting, first aid, safety awareness, sea survival, health and safety as well as navigation.

Individuals enrolling on the courses will be trained to a level higher than the minimum legal requirements and will have all the essential basic skills to begin working at sea. On completion, students will be supported by Coleg Llandrillo and Seafish to find work experience and progression within the industry.

Andy White, lecturer in marine technology, said: “The funding secured by Seafish will allow us to increase the scale and range of courses we offer existing and aspiring commercial fishermen.

“In addition, approved engineering and navigation courses, will also be offered to existing commercial fishermen, free of charge.”

A spokesperson from Seafish said: “These courses provide a comprehensive induction to working and staying safe at sea. We always encourage more people to think about a career in the seafood industry, whether that be in the fishing, processing or production sectors.”