Education & Training

Qualifications required

The basic requirements are QQI certificates in commercial fishing, aquaculture or seafood processing. BIM Safety Card, and the BIM Passenger Boat Card are extremely popular and offer dual certification. These are accredited by QQI at Level 5 and approved by the Irish Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.

The more qualifications you hold, the more employable you will be and BIM offers a wide range of daytime, evening and weekend courses to both established fisherman and new entrants, in all areas of fishing. Education and training has a vital role to play in ensuring the long-term development of the industry.

Typical entry routes

Each year, BIM delivers over 1,000 formal training places to students. Upskilling is delivered through a wide range of courses, subjects and locations. This includes programmes in safety at sea, radio communications, certificates of competency, navigation, passenger boat proficiency, commercial diving, fishmonger skills and leadership programmes. These programmes range from short programmes to longer programmes lasting several months.

The BIM training facilities and staff are a particularly important, highly visible, and recognisable support for the sector. Many students return to BIM to further their skills and careers. This creates strong links and relationships between BIM and our clients. A large part of the formal, accredited BIM training programmes is delivered on behalf of the Marine Survey Office (MSO), within the Department of Transport. Fishers are required to undertake a range of training to be legally qualified to go to sea and carry out essential roles on fishing vessels in a safe manner.

These programmes may be mandatory training required to initially work at sea or progressing through longer, more advanced programmes to develop their skills and career. A number of programmes including diving, fishmonger skills and fishing vessel engineering are validated by QQI (Quality and Qualifications Ireland) leading to awards on the National Framework of Qualifications. In addition, BIM also offers non[1]accredited programmes where learners receive a BIM

BIM provides flexible training programmes to support the development and growth of the Irish Seafood industry. One of BIM’s objectives is to expand the skills base and increase the availability of trained workers. Flexible modular courses allow experienced people already working in the industry to improve their skills, while comprehensive courses for new entrants are also available at Greencastle, Galway and Castletownbere.

The new ranges of modular training vocational training courses are accredited by QQI. Lifelong learning opportunities are provided to a national standard that is recognised throughout the EU.

BIM also provides training for deck and engineer certificates of competency in addition to other mandatory qualifications.

BIM offer courses in the following areas - Click here for information on each course.

Skippers & Crew
Engineering
Safety Training
Commercial Diving
Deckhand Foundation Programme
Radio
Aquaculture
Processors & Retailers
Passenger Boat Proficiency
Health & Safety

Seafood Training Scheme

This scheme is designed to create a talent pool for industry by developing skills and knowledge in line with EMFAF priorities.

This scheme is open to eligible individuals who wish to attend Recognised Training and Educational Courses.

For the purposes of this scheme “Recognised Training and Educational Courses” means courses provided via BIM, or by educational or training providers recognised by BIM as having the necessary competence to deliver courses which result in the same qualifications as those provided by BIM.

Who is Eligible

This scheme is open to individuals who are:

new entrants to the Irish seafood sector

Please Note: New entrants are required to have an offer of employment or to intend to start a business in the Irish seafood industry

currently employed within the sector and wish to upskill.

(Note that all grants under this scheme will be paid directly to the student undertaking the training, and not to their employer. This is in order to allow students to claim subsistence payments to which they may be entitled.)

Eligible and Ineligible Expenditure

Overview of eligible courses, eligible costs, etc, can be found here: Seafood Training Scheme – eligibility & grant calculations

Eligible expenditure

Course fees charged by course providers for participation in Recognised Training and Educational Courses.
Subsistence costs are pre-defined per course (in line with public service rates).

Subsistence costs only apply to training days which require in-person attendance, and in fixed locations.

For clarity, subsistence costs do not apply to courses provided through BIM’s Coastal Training Units (CTUs) since these mobile units travel to coastal locations to provide training close to students home or work.

If a student does not attend all days of a course (verified by BIM attendance records, or by a formed signed by any other training provider), the subsistence grant aid will be reduced accordingly.
In line with public service rules, overnight rates only apply if a student lives at least 100km from the training location. Those living less than 100km from the training location will be entitled to the day rate. Those living within 8km of the training location will not be entitled to subsistence.

Ineligible Expenditure

Exam fees.
Course fees and exam fees for any repeats or resits.
Any travel and subsistence costs outside those specified above.
Subsistence costs for exam days, since exams can be taken in various locations.

Amounts Granted

Beneficiary Type

Aid Intensity

Rate

Owners of Small Scale Coastal Fishing vessels, for courses deemed relevant for SSCF vessels

100%

All other eligible applicants, and all other courses which SSCF vessel owners might choose to attend

50%

What is Eligible

Click here to view

Eligible Expenditure Items

How to Apply

How to Apply for a Grant and Book a Training Course

Fill out the form to apply for a grant and make a booking application.
Training Registration Form

Please Note: This application form for grant aid must be submitted before the course start date AND before payment of any course fees.

You will not be booked onto a course until you receive confirmation from the relevant training unit.
Admission to courses is based on availability, eligibility criteria, and a selection process.