Government of the Federated States of Micronesia

SPC will Conduct Training on Vessel Operation Management and Electronic Aid

PALIKIR, Pohnpei (FSM Information Service): December 2, 1997 - The South Pacific Commission will be holding a two-weeks course in February, at a venue to be decided, on Vessel Operation Management and Electronic Aids for Commercial Fishing Skippers or Captains. The training is funded by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), according to Vice President Leo A. Falcam's letter of September 23, 1997, to the four State Governors.

The objective of the course is to help skippers better understand the costs of ship's operations and to introduce new ideas and new technologies to improve catches.

The course is designed to build upon participants' varied existing skills and improve the areas they lack expertise.

Priority for selecting participants should be given to skippers or first mate on commercial boats fishing in the Pacific Island waters, Falcam stated.

Selected individuals will be entitled to a round-trip airline ticket and subsistence allowance for any stop-over. Additional participants are welcome. However, expenses for any additional participant from each entity should be borne by the sending sponsoring government or organization.

All nominations should be forwarded to the FSM Department of External Affairs.