How to get involved:
First of all you should contact Jim Hyam at Seafish on 07876035749 or email at j_hyam@seafish.co.uk to find out some basic information or you can download some basic Responsible Fishing Scheme information and fill in your detalis on the application form and send it off. To download please click RFS - Information and Application form.Nov 2012
Once your intention to become a member has been received Seafish will make arrangements for you to have a pre-audit visit by a qualified coach. This preliminary audit is free of charge and prepares you for the final audit, stage. The findings of the preliminary audit will be discussed fully with you. Any non-compliant areas will be identified and remedial actions recommended. Once any non-compliant areas have been addressed, the vessel owner will arrange for a final audit to be carried out by an independent certification body.
On successful completion of the audit, the vessel will be certified a responsible fishing vessel. Showing the vessel and crew are adhering to good practice and responsible fishing.
To maintain your cretification to the scheme the vessel will have to undergo 3 yearly re-audits to ensure the vessel and crew are maintaing the good practices and fishing responsibly. This 3 yearly re-audit is carried out by the independent certification body.
To help you to meet the criteria contained within the audit you can now download the audit checklist and guidelines by clicking on the following links
Audit Checklist RFS - Generic Checklist for RFS Pre audit Note the colours highlighted in the audit checklist refer to the different sections that are contained in the RFS folders - (these folders are passed on to Skippers at the pre audit stage)
Instruction Audit Checklist RFS - Generic Instruction Checklist for RFS Pre audit This document is an exact copy of the generic checklist but with added information that shows what would be expected for you to meet each of the checklists criteria.
Audit Checklist Guidelines RFS - Generic Checklist Audit Guidelines These guidelines enable you to see what the requirements are for each of the audit criteria laid out in the audit checklist.
Plus as an additional help we also have lots more information available to you in the Good Practice Guide and Downloads Sections. In the Good Practice Guide section we have put together a series of good practice guides pertaining to all the different catching sectors and in the Downloads section we have put together a series of 5 crew training forms, a series of 4 hygiene and storage forms and a form to report any sightings while at sea. All available for printing off as and when you require them.
Special offer now available:- All RFS vessels now to receive 50% discount towards the audit cost.
More great news from Seafish - we are now able to offer a 50% reduction in all audit costs which includes first time audits and re-audits. As a way of providing further support for the catching sector, Seafish have agreed to make this special offer available to all vessels undertaking an RFS audit.
In addition: For the next few months all audit costs will be capped at a maximum of £75 + Vat
So if you have been thinking of becoming a member or if your re-audit is now due there is no better time than now to contact us and take advantage of this great offer. For further details please contact Jim Hyam on j_hyam@seafish.co.uk or call on the following number 07876035749.