Fishing Partnership Support Services is working with the Maine Lobstermen’s Association to hold free Safety at Sea Trainings for commercial lobstermen and fishermen in two Maine locations; Jonesport and Boothbay Harbor

Massachusetts’ based Fishing Partnership Support Service (FPSS) is a non-profit dedicated to improving the health, safety, and economic security of commercial fishermen, their families, and their communities. Fundamental to their mission is a commitment to equipping fishermen with the skills to fish more safely, and this work extends far beyond Massachusetts.

As has been true of past seasons, this spring, FPSS is bringing its free, two-day safety at sea programming up and down the Eastern Seaboard with location sites from Maine to North Carolina. They will be in Jonesport (U.S. Coast Guard Station, Jonesport) on May 22 & 23 and in Boothbay Harbor (U.S. Coast Guard Station, Boothbay Harbor) on May 25 & 26.

Trainings are designed specifically for commercial fishermen and lobstermen, including captains and crewmen, and are also helpful for family members, including children, who may join trips. Each day of training provides hands-on opportunities to learn or hone fundamental skills necessary to fish more safely.

Day One: Safety & Survival - Learn about EPIRBs, Signal Flares, MAYDAY Calls, Man Overboard Recovery, Firefighting, Flooding & Damage Control, Dewatering Pumps, Immersion Suits, PFDs, & Life Rafts. Commercial Fishermen who attend are eligible for a 50% rebate off a Lifejacket they purchase after the trainings.

Day Two: Drill Conductor Certification - During this second day, fishermen dig deeper into what they learned in the Safety & Survival Class, including new information in cold-water survival, helicopter rescues, stability, liability, and emergency procedures. Fishermen who complete these two days of training are Alaska Marine Safety Education Association Certified Drill Conductors, which meets USCG requirements under 46 CFR 28.270(c). In Maine, this meets the mandatory requirement for Student Lobster Fishermen wanting to earn their Commercial Lobster Fishing License.

Past attendees speak positively about the relevance of training and have reported, "I have learned a lot of information that'll help me on any type of boat," "Training and practice is critical, so you know how to use your equipment in an emergency,” and "I bought equipment before but never saw it work."

Interested participants may register online by visiting fishingpartnership.org/calendar or by contacting Fishing Partnership Navigator Maria Carpenter at mcarpenter@fishingpartnership.org or 978-282-4847