Project summary/abstract purpose. Washington sea grant has a timely opportunity to collaborate with industry and community partners to strengthen the access of commercial fishing to new and young…

Project summary/abstract purpose. Washington sea grant has a timely opportunity to collaborate with industry and community partners to strengthen the access of commercial fishing to new and young people interested in a high quality career option by developing and supporting training programs designed to better prepare and engage new entrants to succeed in pacific northwest fisheries. Discrete technical skills and knowledge are needed for fishermen to be successful at commercial fishing, an industry that has experienced declines in recent years. For example, as fishermen prepare to go fishing, they must understand the legal regulations they require as well as information about fishing seasons and openings based on geography. While local regulations, gear types, navigational skills, and other required knowledge may be learned independently, there is a clear but currently unmet need for training in on-vessel technical skills, safety at sea, diesel engine and hydraulics skills, as well as soft skills like conflict mitigation, and business and personal financial skills. Activities. Washington sea grant proposes to meet the training needs of the next generation by developing a washington young fishermen and crew conference and skills & drills technical training. Together, these events will attract new and established fishermen for safety training, technical and soft skills training, financial and business planning tools, and networking opportunities. Expected outcomes. 1) establish a community-led advisory committee to advise on the strategy and design the conference and programmed training, 2) participants will increase knowledge of fisheries management processes, become familiar with fishery-specific decision-makers and be able to identify openings for engagement. 3) training participants will gain and improve their technical vessel skills, such as: successfully identify wheelhouse electronics, their purpose and application in navigation. Connect electronics through new networking technologies plot a course and navigate a vessel identify the major systems on a commercial vessel i.e. hydraulics, steering, propulsion, deck equipment, safety equipment develop basic engineering skills and learn preventative maintenance be able to tie basic knots and splice boat required for various fishing vessels be able to use a stick welder by completing a butt* and a LAP* weld plan (and practice) appropriate docking and departure of slips based upon wind and current introduction to ship power systems 4) participants will receive coast guard-approved drill instructor certification & first aid at sea certification, 5) fishermens research priorities will be identified and ranked, 6) participants will gain understanding of common business practices (e.g., taxes, insurance) and rules of fishing (e.g., regulations). 7) participants will receive anti-bias and conflict resolution training. Washington sea grant anticipates continuing the fishermen and crew trainings annually. Through our targeted inclusion of a community-driven advisory committee, current and future work will be responsive to the needs and priorities of community and industry partners. The safety, technical, and business skills acquired by new entrants will decrease the barrier for new entrants to access commercial fishing, and as a result perpetuate the long-term resilience of washingtons fishing fleet as a high quality and honorable livelihood. Moreover, supporting commercial fishing business operationslargely located in rural communitiesoffers the potential to both strengthen local economies and build a more resilient statewide seafood industry. A byproduct of these events will be developing long-term social networks among young fishermen, crew, and established fishermen. Creating space for such social networks to grow and develop will lead to natural information exchange and collaboration in perpetuity. Intended beneficiaries. Workers in washington, fishing captai