Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs written question – answered at on 19 May 2021.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the number of seasonal workers employed annually within the fishing industry in (a) UK ports in total, (b) Ardglass and (c) Kilkeel ports.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of the new immigration rules on the fishing industry.
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of extending immigration exemptions for seasonal workers to the fishing industry.
A Seafish survey found seasonal workers accounted for 6% of all fishers in UK ports in 2018. This included three seasonal workers in Kilkeel and none in Ardglass. We have made no assessment on the effect of the new immigration rules on the fishing industry introduced on 6 April 2021.
We have not assessed the merits of extending the Seasonal Workers Pilot to the fishing industry given the comparatively lower numbers of seasonal workers in fishing compared to other food production industries. EU nationals who have settled status can continue to travel to the UK to do seasonal work in 2021.
Yes1 person thinks so
No2 people think not
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