Building International Collaboration in Tasmania
Seafood and Maritime Tasmania (SMT) recently hosted a delegation from the Korean Marine Meister High School.
The students visited the Huon Valley Trade Training Centre, Tassal, local oyster and abalone farms, gaining firsthand experience of the Tasmanian seafood industry.
As part of the program delegates meet with Seafood Industry Tasmania, Salmon Tasmania, and Oyster Tasmania to form MOU’s and strengthen local industry connections.
The aim of these visits is to help establish and grow links between the Korean school, their future graduates and the Tasmanian seafood industry. This initiative aims to foster international education and industry partnerships.
Looking ahead, SMT is excited to welcome the next group of international students in 2025.
Successful Hatchery Group
Not all aquaculture trainees are destined for life on a boat, with many now learning about aquaculture practices onshore, as part of Seafood and Maritime Training’s (SMT) Hatchery Training Program.
SMT’s trainees have successful completed their Certificate III in Aquaculture hatchery-based program. This course is specifically designed for hatchery trainees, offering them specialized training in the field.
One of the things that sets this course apart is its focus on chemical handling and biological sampling, crucial skills for those working in hatcheries. These trainees gain hands-on experience and knowledge that prepares them for the unique challenges of aquaculture.
Interestingly, the expertise developed in Tasmania is now moving north into Queensland. SMT is now offering Certificate III in Aquaculture, for Barramundi and Prawns, with Queensland benefiting from the tech and skills in developed in Tasmania. This northward transfer of knowledge is enhancing the quality and effectiveness of aquaculture training across Australia.
School’s program
Several Tasmanian schools are undertaking a training program to help students achieve the skills and knowledge towards gaining a Coxswain Grade 2 certification. Seafood and Maritime Training are facilitating these programs, bridging the gap between schools and the maritime industry. This collaboration ensures that students receive practical, industry-relevant education, preparing them for future careers in the seafood and maritime sectors.
Meet Ben Tucker
SMT’s expert trainer with a love for Adventures in Antarctica
Ben Tucker has now spent seven summers over nine years, starting in 2015, working in Antarctica. He has taken charter boats to the Antarctic Peninsula and worked for the Australian Antarctic Division on inflatables and barges, transferring cargo from the Aurora Australis to shore, including handling up to one million litres of fuel.
Ben’s sense of Antarctic adventure began in 2006 when he sailed his yacht from Hobart to Mason Hut. Before that, in 2000, he completed a single-handed trans-Tasman voyage on his 26-foot folk boat.
Growing up, Ben sailed with his family and worked on fishing trawlers and crayfishing boats in New Zealand. His first major role was with P&O as a Navigation Officer on 250-meter container ships. He also worked in the Pacific on the ‘Soren Larsen’ and served as a rigger on the restoration of the historic 100-foot sailing ship ‘James Craig,’ originally built in 1874.
In his spare time, Ben enjoys rock climbing, sea kayaking, and sailing smaller boats. He appreciates smaller boats because of the close contact with the ocean they provide.
Ben has been training with Seafood and Maritime Training since 2007. He enjoys helping people develop their skills and knowledge to receive the qualifications they need for their career.
