New Project Champions Future Women Tutors in Fishing and Marine Sectors
Seafood Cornwall Training (SCT) and the UK Women in Fisheries Network (UK WIF) have launched a new initiative to nurture the next generation of women tutors in the commercial fishing and marine sector—starting with a women-only Sea Survival course on the 29th May 2025.
Despite making up 50% of the global seafood workforce, women are still vastly underrepresented in sea-going and formal training roles. Only 1.8% of those working at sea are women—a figure that hasn’t shifted in over 40 years. Of SCT’s 12 current instructors, just one is a woman. This project is part of a long-term commitment to gender parity in the sector, demonstrating not only that women are capable of leading in maritime training, but that they are needed, welcomed, and valued. Building women-only spaces like a Sea Survival course is about more than safety; it’s about creating confidence, community, and the joy of learning alongside peers.
With support from The Seafarers’ Charity, the project will guide up to six women with fishing or maritime experience through a structured tutor qualification process. It begins with a women-only Sea Survival course on 29 May 2025—a deliberate choice, as this course is the first step in any sea-going career and one of the most vital for promoting safer lives at sea. It’s a chance for women to gain essential skills in a supportive space while feeling represented from day one—building not just competence, but confidence, leadership, and the potential to become role models for the next generation.
UK WIF’s Ashley Mullenger—a commercial fisherman and one of the network’s most recognisable voices—will be among those stepping forward as a prospective tutor.
Reflecting on her first Sea Survival course in 2012, Ashley said:
“I was 25 at the time and the only woman in a pool full of men from the oil and gas sector. I was young, and luckily not easily intimidated—however there was a lot of physicality involved, and I could absolutely see how a young woman on her own could be put off. If you don’t see someone who looks like an ally in the room, it’s hard to imagine that the maritime industry is a space for you.”
This project hopes to shift that experience—creating training environments where women see themselves reflected, and where new entrants are welcomed by women who’ve walked (swam) the same path.
Participants will be supported to complete core qualifications such as STCW/Seafish Personal Survival Techniques and the Award in Education & Training, observe course delivery, and apply for tutor approval. SCT and UK WIF hope this pilot will create lasting pathways for women to step into visible, respected leadership roles in training and beyond.
“When women lead the training, they don’t just pass on skills—they send a message that others are welcome too,” said Clare Leverton of Seafood Cornwall Training. “This is about growing future talent, and shaping the culture of the sector from the front of the room.”
Women interested in becoming tutors are encouraged to contact Seafood Cornwall Training on 01736 364324.