Employment:
Fishermen: 7,700 Fish processing: 3,800 Aquaculture: 2,900 Ancillary: 1,350 Total: 15,750
Source: Bord Iascaigh Mhara
Useful address:
Bord Iascaigh Mhara (Irish Sea Fisheries Board), PO Box No 32, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin, Ireland Phone: (01) 284 1544
Courses offered by BIM open to schoolleavers:
Fishing deck-hand - 26 weeks including a work placement on commercial fishing vessels. You must be over 16 years with Junior Cert standard of education.
Fish farming induction training - 25 weeks including a work placement on commercial farms. You must be over 19 years; the course is open to practising fish farmers, second-level school leavers and third-level graduates.
Fishing vessel engineer - 26 months including 12 month's sea service. You must be over 16 years with good grades in maths, science subject, English, metalwork or technical drawing at Junior Cert.
These courses are ESF-funded and there are usually no fees for new entrants to induction programmes. A training allowance of £32 a week is paid and accommodation is provided for fully-residential courses.
Related undergraduate third-level courses:
Cork IT: science (nautical science) diploma; engineering (marine) diploma Galway Mayo IT: aquaculture certificate (addon diploma available) NUI Galway: marine science degree Letterkenny IT: Aquatic science certificate (add-on diploma available) Limerick IT: communications technician (marine/media) certificate Tralee IT: science (aquaculture) certificate Graduates of courses such as the sciences and applied sciences may also find work in the fishing industry.
