A training vessel supporting critical work for mental health in the seafood sector was launched by the Premier on R U OK Day, 8 September 2022.
The Tasmanian Government, through the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania, funded the vessel via a training partnership grant under the Government’s COVID Recovery Funding support for sector training, and through our commitments under the Stay Afloat program.
The seafood sector was one of the hardest hit sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The training vessel, Mariner, is now a flagship part of the Stay Afloat Program which is delivered in partnership with the Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council (TSIC) and Rural Alive and Well (RAW) to promote mental health and wellbeing ion the Seafood Sector. The training vessel will enable on-water industry training that is being led by TSIC and Seafood and Maritime Training (SMT).
Mariner Launch (L to R): James Garde CEO of Seafood Maritime Training (SMT), Premier Jeremy Rockcliff, Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council (TSIC) CEO Julian Harrington and Ian Dutton, GM Marine Resources NRE Tas
Mariner was built by Hobart boat builder and commercial fisher James Onne and holds an important message for the sector. The visual logo on the boat further supports ongoing efforts by TSIC and the Stay Afloat program in promoting awareness of mental health issues faced by our seafood industry.
The vessel will support the entry of new entrants to the seafood sector and provides a valuable platform to retrain and upskill older workers in the workforce. To date, some 75 seafood sectors employees have been engaged in new training under the program.