careers & youth

The fishing industry offers diverse career paths, from hands-on roles at sea to positions in seafood processing. Through our training initiatives and partnerships, we focus on attracting young people to the industry and providing long-term opportunities to build fulfilling careers in fishing.

In line with the Cornish Fishing Strategy’s key pillars, the CFPO prioritises recruitment and retention. We are actively involved in initiatives addressing the challenges posed by an aging workforce and regularly partner with organisations such as Seafood Cornwall Training to provide ongoing training, mentorship, and upskilling opportunities.

The CFPO was instrumental in setting up the Young Fishermen Network – a UK-wide initiative connecting young commercial fishermen through events and social media. The YFN plays a critical role in creating a community where young fishermen can share experiences, amplify their voices, and build lasting careers.

We also deliver careers outreach programmes to attract new entrants and offer educational fishing port visits for primary school children. These youth engagement projects inspire interest in the fishing industry and help develop the pipeline of future fishermen and seafood champions.

If you’re a school looking to promote the fishing industry or incorporate it into your curriculum, the CFPO can help. You can also click here to download our fact sheet detailing the career pathways in fishing.