February 13, 2025
The Skills and Drills Course will be held March 27-28 in South Bend, Washington
Washington Sea Grant is launching a new two-day program — the Skills and Drills Course — for people who want to gain hands-on experience performing tasks that may be required onboard a West Coast commercial fishing vessel. 
The course will cover the following topics:
- Basics of welding
- Fiberglass repairs
- Vessel handling
- Navigation
- Maintenance of inboard and outboard engines
- Fishing gear repair (net mending and knot tying)
- Marine hydraulics
- Marine electronics
- Vessel cleaning and safe product handling
When:
Thursday, March 27–Friday, March 28, 2025
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Where:
Bendikson Landing
313 Robert Bush Drive
South Bend, WA
Who:
Anyone ages 18 and up who is interested in learning the necessary skills to enter the commercial fishing industry. No prior experience is needed.
Cost: $100. Please contact Robert Maw at rmaw@uw.edu for scholarship information.
What to bring:
Working clothes, deck boots and rain jacket (we will be boarding a vessel and may have some outside sessions). Coffee, lunch, and all training materials and equipment will be provided.
Space is limited to 24 participants. Pre-registration is required.
Register online at bit.ly/wsg-skills-drills
Skills and Drills is part of a project funded through the Sea Grant Young Fishermen’s Career Development Program to build the commercial fishing workforce in Washington. In addition to the Skills and Drills Course, Washington Sea Grant will hold a new conference for fishermen and crew in December 2025. These programs will prepare the next generation for successful careers in commercial fishing while fostering valuable networking opportunities for newcomers and experienced fishermen alike.
For more details, contact Robert Maw, rmaw@uw.edu.
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Washington Sea Grant, based at the University of Washington, helps people and marine life thrive through research, technical expertise and education supporting the responsible use and conservation of coastal ecosystems. Washington Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in coastal and Great Lakes states that encourage the wise stewardship of our marine resources through research, education, outreach and technology transfer.
Join the conversation: instagram.com/waseagrant and Facebook.com/WaSeaGrant.
FEB
2025