MIN 722 (M+F): Clarification of the Basic Health and Safety and Safety Awareness Training Requirements for Fishers.
Published 17 September 2025
© Crown copyright 2025
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/min-722-mf-clarification-of-the-basic-health-and-safety-and-safety-awareness-training-requirements-for-fishers/min-722-mf-clarification-of-the-basic-health-and-safety-and-safety-awareness-training-requirements-for-fishers
1. Introduction/Background
MGN 411 (M+F) was introduced to outline the training and certification requirements for crew on all UK-registered commercial fishing vessels.
The information provided in this Marine Information Note (MIN) is intended to clarify the requirements for Basic Health and Safety and Safety Awareness training, ensuring consistent application across the UK fishing industry.
Paragraph 2.3.4 of MGN 411 is now withdrawn, as it no longer aligns with current policy or operational requirements. It has been replaced by Section 2.3 of this MIN.
2. Clarification of the Basic Health and Safety, and Safety Awareness Training Requirements for Fishers.
The following clarification is provided to ensure a consistent understanding and application of the Basic Health and Safety and Safety Awareness Training Requirements for Fishers.
2.1 Clarification on the required Certification that must be held
Fishers who were working in the industry before 1 January 2005 are exempt from completing the Basic Health and Safety course. These individuals are only required to complete the remaining four mandatory basic safety courses.
Experienced fishers who have completed the Safety Awareness course but not the Basic Health and Safety course will not be penalised. Specifically, those who completed the Safety Awareness course before 1 July 2024 are not required to complete the Basic Health and Safety course.
After this date, training centres have been advised that fishers should not complete the Safety Awareness course without first holding a Basic Health and Safety course certificate, unless they began working in the fishing industry before 1 January 2005, in which case they remain exempt.
An experienced fisher is defined as someone who has worked on a UK registered fishing vessel for two years or more.
2.2 Clarification on the required certification that must be held for Non-UK Fishers
Non-UK Fishers starting work on UK registered fishing vessels are to be treated similarly to new entrants from the day they begin employment on a UK fishing vessel, for the purposes of completing their mandatory training. However, as there are no recognised equivalents to the Basic Health and Safety and Safety Awareness courses, and given the variability in foreign fisheries experience, the MCA has adopted a pragmatic approach for those commencing work on UK-registered fishing vessels.
Non-UK fishers joining a UK fishing vessel should complete the Basic Health and Safety course before starting work. However, if this is not possible, the fisher must complete the course within three months of commencing employment on a UK fishing vessel. To support this three-month allowance, the skipper must maintain onboard documentation for each non-UK fisher who has not yet completed the Basic Health and Safety course, including:
- Name and date of birth of each non-UK seafarer;
- Date they commenced work; and
- Copies of completed vessel familiarisation and safety induction checklists.
Non-UK fishers must complete the Safety Awareness course within two years of starting work, which would normally be within 21 months of completing the Basic Health and Safety course.
Before undertaking safety awareness the Non-UK Fisher must have undertaken at least 6 months seagoing service on a UK registered vessel (as per section 2.3 of this MIN).
If skippers, crew, or vessel owner-operators are unable to meet any of the above requirements, they must contact the Seafarer Services Technical team via email at: exams@mcga.gov.uk. They should explain the reasons and provide a proposed timeline for compliance. Approval must be obtained from the MCA before proceeding to sea.
2.3 Pre-requisites for joining a Seafish Safety Awareness Course
Given that the course is aimed at experienced fishers seeking to improve their knowledge in Safety Awareness while working onboard a fishing vessel, Seafish and the MCA have agreed to the following pre-requisites that must be completed prior to a fisher undertaking the course:
- 1-day Seafish Basic Sea Survival*.
- 1-day Seafish Basic Fire Fighting and Prevention*;
- 1-day Seafish Basic First Aid*;
- 1-day Basic Health and Safety (only required of new entrants after 01 January 2005, or experienced fishers who have completed Safety Awareness after 01 July 2024); and
- 6 months experience working on a UK registered fishing vessel
*Training and certification deemed equivalent under MGN 411, Section 2.3, are acceptable.
Seafish Approved training providers must ensure they have adequate procedures in place to verify that all course prerequisites have been met. If they have any queries regarding these requirements, they should contact Seafish for further guidance.
3. Queries relating to the MIN
For any queries relating to these changes, Owners, Operators, Skippers and Crew of Fishing Vessels should contact exams@mcga.gov.uk.
4. More Information
UK Seafarer Training and Certification Branch
Maritime and Coastguard Agency
Bay 2/19
Spring Place
105 Commercial Road
Southampton
SO15 1EG
Email: exams@mcga.gov.uk
Website: www.gov.uk/mca
Please note that all addresses are correct at time of publishing.
Published: September 2025
© Crown Copyright 2025