FirstMate Navigators: reaching out to the fishing community
FirstMate New Zealand is a charity set up to support the health and wellbeing of hardworking people across the commercial seafood sector and their whānau.
Work in commercial fishing is physically demanding and brings some very specific sources of stress too. That is why FirstMate has developed industry-specific information and guidance on ways to help manage stress and get back on an even keel. Support is only a phone call away.
FirstMate navigators, like Glenn Robinson and Pat Nyhon, are people who live and breathe the seafood sector and know first-hand what fishers may be dealing with. They offer a friendly ear to talk about anything that is causing difficulty, and they can connect fishers to the support service that will help the most.
Crewing on inshore trawl and crayfish vessels is how Glenn and Pat got their start in the commercial fishing industry. They each went on to own and operate their own vessels and are still fishing today, as well as bringing their passion for the industry to their roles as navigators for charity FirstMate.
FirstMate Navigator, Pat Nyhon
“I got the fishing bug when I went on my first trawler aged 16, even though I grew up on a farm,” says Pat. “There’s a sense of freedom in being out on the water, and sights you don’t get anywhere else.”
In his years as a deckhand then skipper for other companies, Pat targeted cod, crayfish and tuna, and spent time harvesting oysters. He eventually ended up with two of his own trawlers, Antares and Cressy, the latter he still operates, based in Bluff.
Pat loves being part of the fishing community and has always enjoyed helping others.
“The fishing industry is like no other, in that we’re making good use of this wild, untouched product,” he says. “But negative public perception is a problem, when you can be out there doing everything right, and that’s something most of us feel.”
Pat says the main thing people should know about FirstMate is they can talk about anything on their mind – and it’s all confidential. “We’ll help with everything we can,” he says, “and it’s not just fishers who can give us a call. We’re available to talk with family members who might need a hand as well”.
Glenn Robinson also comes from a farming background and left school to turn his love of recreational fishing into something that paid. Then, after a stint mining in Australia followed by work and travel in the UK, time on an Australian prawn vessel convinced him fishing was the way to go. Returning to New Zealand, he skippered the trawler Solitaire before purchasing and operating it himself, out of Port Chalmers.
“You’re in your own time and space on a boat, and that flexibility is really appealing,” Glenn says. “Of course, you’re at the whim of the weather too. If it’s looking good, you might be at sea for four or five days on a trawler, or if you’re a day fisher, having to suddenly miss your kid’s birthday.”
FirstMate Navigator, Glenn Robinson
The demands of fishing on family life is a conversation Glenn has had many times over the years with fellow fishers. Solutions aren’t always easy, but the first step is often talking them through.
“Sometimes I can help by offering a sympathetic ear,” Glenn says. “Other times, it can be useful to put people in touch with a counselling service.”
While there’s a mental wellbeing element to FirstMate, Glenn echoes Pat, saying the support spans a range of topics, including talking through budgeting challenges.
“Not everyone has the same social connections,” Glenn says, “and solving a problem can be a matter of just having a number you can call to ask a question.”
FirstMate navigators have deep knowledge of the seafood sector and know the difficulties and challenges it brings. Call 0800 ADRIFT (0800 237438) for free any day between 7am and 10pm or email info@firstmate.org.nz to access the support you need. Visit firstmate.org.nz for more information and advice.