RI Training was founded by Patrick McDaniel, who holds a Degree in Fisheries Science from Plymouth Polytechnic and has always maintained a keen interest in fisheries. His extensive professional journey includes numerous fisheries development projects in Africa and the UK, both as an individual and through RI since the early 1990s. His expertise and dedication have earned him a strong reputation in the field.
Since its inception, RI has evolved into a multi-purpose training and consultancy business, successfully completing numerous fisheries and aquaculture development projects. Our efforts have addressed various developmental needs, impacting the sectors significantly. Over the last 30 years, our consultancy inputs in fisheries and aquaculture have covered:
These projects span fishing communities across the UK, from Cornwall to the Shetland Islands, providing us with a unique understanding of both regional and national issues affecting the sector.
In recent years, our focus has shifted towards developing fisheries and aquaculture through training and development projects. We have been a major provider of consultancy services to the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish), supporting the implementation of national training initiatives. One notable project is the creation of the Seafish Online eLearning platform, which has educated Fishers in the UK for the last 20 years. This platform helped facilitate various training initiatives implemented by Seafish, including the Under 16.5m Skipper’s Ticket and their New Entrant training programmes. All training materials were developed by RI, working in collaboration with technical specialists. In addition to the fishing resources, we have created specialist non-fishing training resources, such as those that introduce the renewables sector and others that introduce drug awareness for fishers.
In 2023, we welcomed Dr. Patrick Coutin as an associate consultant. He brings 40 years of research experience in fish and crustacean stock assessment and aquatic habitat evaluation. For over a decade, he has contributed to fisheries management plans for sustainable development and the preparation of Fisheries Status Reports for the Victorian Government and the Co-Management Council in Australia. During the 1990s, he coordinated research and promoted collaboration in four states as the Chair of the Southern Rock Lobster Research Group and successfully conducted stock assessments on sharks, rock lobsters, crabs, and scale fish for the Victorian and Commonwealth Government in Australia.
Dr. Coutin’s background and experience are in the sustainable development of commercial and recreational fisheries in temperate and tropical coastal waters of Europe, West Africa and the Pacific. In the early years, he lived in Devon near Salcombe and went to school near Tavistock. As a graduate, he completed training courses in scuba diving at Fort Bovisand in Plymouth. Later as a warden, the first voluntary marine reserve was established at St.Abbs for the Scottish Wildlife Trust. After studying at Plymouth and Coventry Universities, he has written over 70 scientific publications, fisheries management plans and fisheries status reports on sharks, crabs, lobsters and scale fish. While on secondment at CEFAS in Lowestoft, he completed maritime safety at sea training in Southampton and participated in advanced electronic tagging of cod in the North Sea.
For over a decade, Dr Coutin had a leading role on the Executive Council of the Australian Society for Fish Biology and was the President from 2007 to 2009, hosting international conferences and fostering international collaboration through the World Council of Fisheries Societies and promoting professional networking amongst scientists, fisheries managers and stakeholders.
At RI, we remain committed to advancing the fisheries and aquaculture sectors through innovative training and consultancy services, leveraging our collective expertise to address the industry's evolving needs and sustainable fisheries development.
Contact us using the link below or telephone 01379 676 545 / 07552 021 021, and let us help you with your fisheries and aquaculture project.
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