S.Atlantic : St Helena - Training for Official Fish Inspectors
Submitted by SARTMA.com (Nathan Prince) 05.09.2010 (Article Archived on 19.09.2010)
In May/June this year, Andre Herne and Kevin Youde from the Environmental Health Section of the Public Health and Social Services Department travelled to Cape Town to participate in a 17-day training course to develop their skills as Fish Inspectors for the fishery sector Competent Authority on St Helena.
Training for Official Fish Inspectors
In May/June this year, Andre Herne and Kevin Youde from the Environmental Health Section of the Public Health and Social Services Department travelled to Cape Town to participate in a 17-day training course to develop their skills as Fish Inspectors for the fishery sector Competent Authority on St Helena.
The training course was held at SWIFT Micro Laboratories and was also attended by personnel from Tristan da Cunha who are working in the fishery sector there. Funded by the 9th European Development Fund ‘Strengthening Fisheries Products Health Conditions Programme Module 1, which concerns ‘Strengthening National Health Control Capacity for Fishery Products’, the course comprised both theoretical and practical content and included 4 days of inspection training, factory visits and laboratory work.
It is important that official fish inspectors on St Helena receive regular training updates, as the requirements for export of fish products to the European Union are reviewed periodically and staff must keep up-to-date with these to ensure that fish exports meet the standards required to allow continued exportation of our local product to the EU.
In speaking to Andre about the training, he said, “I welcomed the opportunity to up-date my knowledge and skills in this area of my work, as it complemented areas of previous training I have undertaken in the UK. In particular, the theoretical sessions on microbiology gave me valuable insight into food poisoning investigations and determining its sources”.
Kevin commented “As this was my first opportunity for this type of overseas training, I felt the training improved my skills as a trainee fish inspector and will benefit me in being fully competent in this area of work”.
It is hoped that similar training opportunities will become available in the future to enable staff to continue to develop their skills.
Public Health and Social Services Department
31 August 2010
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