experienced crew members onboard.
Taiwanese intermediaries do not view training as much of a concern.
Ms. Li says that fishing isn’t a highly complex job. The day-to-day work
is mostly the same, and inexperienced crew members can quickly adapt by
learning from the senior crew on the boat. They’ll pick it up fast if they’re
willing to learn. Nevertheless, it’s better if they’ve been trained in their
home country beforehand to ensure they won’t get seasick. “If they don’t
get seasick, they’ll get the hang of things quickly once onboard. But it
becomes a huge problem if they do get seasick. They’ll throw up and need
to lie down, unable to work, and the captain will be furious because he/she
will think we’ve deceived him/her.”
Chen Wen-sheng, a small fishing boat owner, explained that onboard
operations rely on experienced crew members mentoring recruits. On a
typical vessel with 15 crew members, there would usually be 12 or 13
experienced crew paired with 2 or 3 newcomers. “You can’t have an entire
crew of recruits; once you set sail, everything will be chaotic, and
operations will be impossible.” Regarding safety training, which includes
using life jackets, life rafts, and fire extinguishers, he believes it is the
responsibility of the vessel owner and the captain to ensure that training is
provided before the ship departs.
The NHRC requested the TSSFA to arrange a visit to the Chin Chuan
Hsing, a distant-water squid and Pacific saury fishing vessel. During the
visit, we exchanged views with representatives from the association, the
vessel’s captain, and the company manager regarding recent regulatory
developments and labor-related issues onboard. A representative from the
TSSFA pointed out that many fishing techniques onboard are learned
through experience, as there is no systematic method for teaching them.
The most fundamental requirement is to instill safety awareness and ensure
proper training.
The TSSFA also mentioned that five or six similar unions in Indonesia
offer training programs for fishers. The agreement aims to have Indonesian
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