The maritime industry is facing a shortage of qualified seafarers.

This according to FIMSA's Principal Marine Officer Captain Pauliasi Vakaloloma is a global trend and with the World Maritime Day celebrations to be held this Friday, they want to highlight that there is a need for institutions to raise the standard of courses available at the moment.

Vakaloloma said as mariners want to gain more qualifications they have to go overseas, and as a result this also results in Fiji losing qualified people.