Local fishers are invited to expand their skills with a five-day seafood processing course on Thursday Island plus future sessions planned for Masig.
The course covers:
- cleaning, filleting and preparing seafood to standard
- safe knife handling and equipment use
- workplace health and safety.
Limited spots are available in the course, which is supported by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) to build skills, open opportunities and strengthen the region’s seafood industry.
The training is run by Indigenous Initiatives and Innovation seafood industry experts, Kenny Bedford and Shawn McAtamney, through the Australian Pacific International Training Institute Pty Ltd (APITI).
Mr Bedford is a member of the recently appointed Protected Zone Joint Authority (PZJA) Advisory Committees with membership in the Torres Strait Finfish Resource Assessment Group.
He said the course would help local fishers expand their skills and income potential, including new pathways in the seafood industry.
“Seafood harvested from our waters must be maintained at the highest standards by every hand in the process, from the time the product comes out of the water and into the dinghy, to the time it reaches all the buyers in the chain,” Mr Bedford said.
“This accredited training is not just for our region, it is a national qualification valid anywhere in Australia.
“The training is a response to a need identified to support families already fishing commercially or wanting to engage in the fisheries industry.”
TSRA Chairperson George Nona said TSRA was proud to support local people to build on their fishing expertise with nationally recognised qualifications in seafood processing.
“We are well known as divers, fishers and harvesters, but if we want to grow the benefits of yumi industry we need to provide training support to our local buyers, processers and asset managers too,” Mr Nona said.
“To protect the Torres Strait’s reputation for quality seafood we must understand and implement the highest standards of quality control.
“Our quality product from our hands, from our pristine waters to our buyers represents the Zenadth Kes brand.
“We are experts in fishing, but learning how to safely process seafood is a step towards sharing our world-class products with more restaurants, markets and buyers.”
The training is supported by TSRA’s Fisheries Program, which aims to enhance the region’s wealth by managing and maintaining sustainable fishing industries and increasing employment and economic opportunities for our people.
The SFISS00022 Fish Processor Induction Skill Set course is funded by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET) under Skilling Queenslanders for Work.
Training details:
Monday 29 September – Friday 3 October 2025
9am-4pm
TSRA Torres Haus, Thursday Island (Joey Nona Conference Room)
To sign up contact TSRA’s Fisheries Project Manager Karen Samoa at fisheries@tsra.gov.au or 0456 959 774.