Malagasy government officials are expanding their skillsets to help safeguard the country’s 100,000 fishers working on domestic and foreign vessels in the Indian and Antarctic Oceans.
This week (30 June - 4 July), 25 participants from key agencies, including 11 women, are taking part in a national workshop on fishing vessel safety led by IMO in Antananarivo. The aim is to better understand the minimum training and certification requirements for crews of fishing vessels, ultimately promoting the safety of life at sea and the marine environment.
The workshop includes comprehensive training on the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F Convention) and the new STCW-F Code. These instruments set minimum standards for the training and certification of crews on fishing vessels, tailored to the unique operational and safety challenges faced by the fishing sector.
The training also reflects the vital role of the fishing industry in Madagascar’s economy, contributing over 7% of national GDP annually, according to the World Bank.
Participants include representatives from the Agence Portuaire, Maritime et Fluviale (APMF), the Ministry of Transport and Meteorology, as well as training institutions and fishing organizations. By equipping government officials and stakeholders with the necessary technical skills and policy knowledge, the IMO also aims support compliance with the STCW-F standards and Madagascar’s progress towards ratifying the STCW-F Convention.
The training is delivered through IMO’s Integrated Technical Cooperation Programme (ITCP) in close collaboration with the APMF of Madagascar.