Plans to roll out a Safety Management System

A service to the fishing sector

SOUTH AFRICA: Hosting international participants to the Fish Platform Meeting at their premises last week, Sea Safety Training Group unveiled plans to roll out a Safety Management System (SMS) free of charge to the fishing sector.

“We want to introduce a regulated self-regulation scheme into the fishing industry. While we do not make the laws, the fishing industry can ascribe to a scheme of self-regulation that follows a recognised process,” Leon Mouton, CEO of SSTG told delegates at the meeting.

The plan is to introduce the system to the fishing sector through a series of engagements along the coastline and make the SMS free to those who want to participate in it.

“We used to charge people for the system, but many companies did not have the capital to implement it so we have decided to donate it to companies that are committed to get certified,” he said.

SSTG will train auditors who will conduct surveys and provide credibility to those that are implementing the system.

Confirming that the system is undergoing final refinements, Mouton said that companies should be rewarded for improving safety through the implementation of an SMS and that SSTG was in the process of discussing these benefits.

“The only way to help fishers is to give them structure,” he said, adding that this could be achieved through the adoption of one safety standard across the sector.

“We are already engaging with the industry. This needs to be driven by industry ahead of new regulations,” he added.