Marine Fisheries and Training - Building skills for career advancement
The amount of marine activity in Arctic waters is expected to double this decade. This increase in traffic is contributing to a higher demand for skilled marine graduates. This includes the fishing industry, working on sealift vessels, ore transport vessels and more. Working in these industries requires specific training and skills. Inuit across Nunavut are pursuing careers in this sector, recognizing the well-paying jobs and opportunities to advance their careers. This is where the Nunavut Marine Fisheries and Training (NFMTC) comes in. To respond to these needs, the NFMTC has developed specialized courses and training for positions across the fishing sector.
Since 2004, the NFMTC has been using training certified by Transport Canada. This training mimics as closely as possible the conditions experienced living and working on board a vessel. This includes using marine simulators, bridge simulators and practical exercises aboard the organization’s training vessel. Over a nearly 20-year span, hundreds of Nunavummiut have used the training provided by the NFMTC to find employment in the industry. As demand increases, the NFMTC has also expanded operations, providing training not only in Nunavut, but also in Nunavik and the Northwest Territories.
CanNor funding supported the NFMTC growing their organization, including the upgrade of a marine simulator in Iqaluit and the development of a strategic plan for the organization. The NFMTC also supported the construction of a training facility in Hay River, NWT, to support the growing Great Slave Lake fishery and the increasing demand for labour.
Demand throughout the North in the sector continues to grow, and Inuit working in the industry want more pathways to senior-level positions. Through its strategic plan, the NFMTC is developing a mentorship program that will give entry-level workers more experience to advance in their careers, and in turn bring new economic opportunities to their families and communities.