Training

The CFTDI offers a broad range of courses in both maritime and seafood technologies to meet the training requirements of fishers in the Caribbean. Most of the training is conducted at the Training Centre in Chaguaramas, also known as the Netshed.

Training Opportunities

The Caribbean Fisheries Training & Development Institute provides training for personnel involved in the fishing industry and the merchant marine sector.

Courses for Fishing Vessel Personnel include: Fishing Gear Technology & Fishing Methods, Outboard Engine Maintenance and Repair, Fibre Glass Reinforced Plastic Technology, Net Mending, Navigation, Basic Safety Training and Boat Master III.

Courses offered in the Seafood Processing Technology area include: Fin Fish Handling & Processing, Salt Curing & Drying of Fish, Smoking of Fish, Shellfish Handling & Processing, Fish & Shellfish Marinades, Quality Control Procedures for Fresh, Frozen & Cured Fish Products, Quality Assurance in Fish & Fishery Products, Fish Inspection, Utilisation of Fish in Salads, Fish Handling for Vessel Operators and Merchandising of Fish.

Courses for the merchant marine sector include: Basic Safety Training, Engineering Rating Category II, Certificate of Proficiency in Survival Craft, Efficient Deckhand, Advanced Fire Fighting, Basic & Advanced First Aid, Coastal Navigation, Boat Master Category III and Emergency Crowd Management & Control on Board Passenger Vessels. Shipping Regulations require that all personnel on marine vessels be certified.

The Caribbean Fisheries Training and Development Institute also offers Literacy Training in collaboration with the Adult Literacy Tutors Association of Trinidad and Tobago.

Am I eligible?

For Fishing Vessel Personnel and Merchant Marine courses, applicants must be:

a minimum of 16 years
medically fit with good eyesight in terms of colour, vision and form
able to read and write

For Seafood Technology courses, applicants must:

be medically fit and in possession of a valid Food Badge
have completed the Fin Fish Handling & Processing course which is a pre-requisite for all the other courses
be able to read and write

How do I apply?

To apply for training:

Check the course schedule for the semester for information about the courses currently offered.
For Seafood Technology courses, an application form (download form) must be completed and submitted to:

Caribbean Fisheries Training Division
1st Avenue South
Chaguaramas
Tel/Fax. 634-1635/1865
Email: training@cftdi.edu.tt

Contact the Registration Clerk between the hours of 8.00 am – 3.45 pm, Monday to Friday.

Application forms may be obtained online or from the Caribbean Fisheries Training Institute (noted above).

For Merchant Marine courses, applicants must first obtain approval from the Maritime Services Division, Henry Street, Port of Spain. The nature of the course requirements would depend on the course being applied for.

When should I apply?

Applications should be received at least two (2) weeks before the start of a training course.

What documents do I need?

A valid form of identification such as a passport, national identification card or driver’s permit is acceptable.

What fees do I need to pay?

Each course carries an associated fee. Information on fees can be obtained from:

Caribbean Fisheries Training Division
1st Avenue South
Chaguaramas
Tel. 634-1635/1865
Email: training@cftdi.edu.tt

For more information on services available to the fishing industry, please contact the Fisheries Division at Tel.623-8542/8525/6028. Additional information for merchant marine programs may be obtained from the Maritime Services Division.