Working in the industry - Fish Safe videos.

Following the success last year of a film designed to help inshore fishermen prepare for MCA safety code inspections, The Seafarer’s Charity has provided funds to make three new short films for all fishermen on different aspects of safe fishing operations. 

The three films – on looking after lifting gear, working safely in enclosed spaces, and stability issues for small vessels – were filmed on a wide variety of UK fishing vessels, from rod and line day-boats through to scallopers, stern trawlers and state of the art pelagic vessels. The vessels were selected to make the safety messages within the films directly relatable to fishermen from all sectors of the industry. Launching the films on The Seafarers’ YouTube Channel, chief executive Deborah Layde said: “The Seafarers’ Charity funds a range of initiatives to improve fishing safety. Funding for the new films is a direct result of the new partnership which sees The Seafarers’ Charity and NFFO utilising their specialist skills and resources for the broader benefit of the commercial fishing sector.

 

Lifting gear -

For more detailed guidance on the safety of lifting equipment on fishing vessels, visit MGN 332 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publica...) and MGN 587 (https://www.gov.uk/government/publica...)

Enclosed spaces -

For more detailed guidance and information on the regulations on entering enclosed spaces on fishing vessels visit MGN 663, visit here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publica... The new rules apply to all fishing vessels from 14 May 2023.

Stability basics -

For more detailed guidance download the Fishing Vessel Stability Guidance Booklet, visit here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publica...

Printed copies can be ordered online from the MCA’s Safety materials ordering service here: https://mca-ws.apsmos.com/Home.html BOOK STABILITY TRAINING - book a stability awareness course and check your eligibility for funding at Seafish: https://www.seafish.org/safety-and-tr... Fishing Vessels can assess their stability by conducting Roll and Heel Tests as set out in MGN 503. Further information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publica... MGN 526 provides guidance to help fishermen make decisions regarding the operation of their vessel using the Wolfson Stability Guidance Method. Further information here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publica...

Fishing roles added to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) and foreign crew sponsorship information.

New opportunities for the UK fishing industry

The Home Office has recognised the challenges faced by employers within the fishing and seafood industry in relation to recruiting workers from overseas, and is now encouraging businesses to apply for a Sponsor Licence.

Most foreign nationals require permission to work in the UK, including UK waters, and this permission can be gained through sponsorship. Current practices see foreign nationals working in the fishing industry in UK waters on transit visas. This is classed as illegal working and has recently brought to light other issues, such as labour abuse.

Fishing companies are now being encouraged by the government to obtain a Skilled Worker Sponsor Licence, enabling them to recruit and legally employ skilled foreign nationals.

This is being supported by updates to the Shortage Occupation List Employers can currently sponsor workers within certain fishing and fish processing roles, under the Skilled Worker route. However, as a sponsor, you must ensure that you meet specific salary requirements, which for the Skilled Worker route is a minimum of:

£10.75/hour; and

£26,200/year; or

The ‘going rate’ for the role if it is higher than the minimum figures above.

The Home Office has now added certain roles within the fishing industry to the Shortage Occupation List. This means that employers will benefit from lower salary thresholds (£10.75/hour and £20,960/year; or 80% of the ‘going rate’) and candidates will benefit from lower visa application fees.

Roles that fall within this category:

Share Fisherman Trawler Skipper

Deckhands on large fishing vessels (only deckhands on large fishing vessels – 9 metres and above. The job must require 3 or more years’ full-time experience).

In an official communication from the Home Office released in April 2023, the Home Secretary is highlighting the ways in which they will be supporting the industry to sponsor foreign workers.

The standard processing time for a Sponsor Licence application is 8 weeks. For an additional £500, businesses can opt for the priority service which guarantees a decision within 10 working days. For new applications from fishing businesses, this fee will be levied, and priority service will be automatically added to applications.

Additionally, there is a promise for expedited visa decisions, at no extra cost. Currently, Skilled Worker visa applications from outside of the UK are decided within 15 working days. Applications from candidates within the fishing industry should therefore be considered within 8 and 10 working days.

The above should help to provide a quicker sponsorship process which in normal cases can take months to progress through.

Sponsor Licence Application -What you need to know In order to successfully apply for a sponsor licence, a business must be prepared to submit a number of supporting documents.

https://www.sponsorlicenceandvisas.co.uk/sponsor-licence-application-guide/

In addition to the general documents required, fishing companies must be aware that their vessels must be registered by law with the UK Ship Register, unless the vessels:

• Are salmon cobles.

• Have an overall length of 10 metres and under and are not propelled by an engine.

• Have an overall length of 10 metres and under and will only be used to fish for common eels.

Vessels must also hold a licence which was issued by the appropriate Fisheries Department. This licence can be obtained by contacting the Local Fisheries Office.

With the applicable supporting documents and regulatory requirements in place, the grant of a UKVI Sponsor Licence can open up new opportunities for fishing in UK waters.

IMMIGRATION SKILLED WORKER SPONSOR LICENCE FOR FISHING INDUSTRY IN THE UK

Immigration Sponsor licence can be obtained by fishing & seafood industry businesses to employ foreign overseas deckhands and trawler skippers on Skilled Worker in the UK. The skilled worker sponsor licence will assist the businesses struggling with the local staff shortages to fill the deckhand and trawler skipper vacancies. Due to the recent changes to UK immigration rules, transit visas are no longer permitted when in the UK waters.

Once the sponsor licence is granted to your business by the UK Home Office, your licence is valid for 4 years and it will give you the authority to employ overseas workers on work visas at your business. You will be able to renew your sponsor licence for further 4-year duration each time, for as long as you need it.

There is no limit on how many overseas migrant workers you can employ on Skilled Worker as long as the job roles are genuinely required by your business. This is called the ‘genuine vacancy test‘. In a nutshell, the jobs must be needed by your business for its operations, and not just created to facilitate the entry of foreign nationals to the UK. The Home Office provides their guidance on the Test in their sponsor guidance.

How to get a sponsor licence for fishing & seafood business

STAFF SHORTAGES IN THE UK FISHING & SEAFOOD SECTOR

Staff shortages are considered as one of the main problems faced by the fishing & seafood sector in the UK. According to the press articles labour has become an increased problem following Brexit. The problems increased further due to the Nationality & Borders Act 2022 which means that transit visa can no longer be used for fishers working in UK waters. You may want to read our article on the immigration changes for fishing industry.

WHAT KEY REQUIREMENTS YOUR BUSINESS HAS TO MEET WHEN APPLYING FOR A SPONSOR LICENCE

There are some requirements that UK businesses have to meet when applying for a skilled worker sponsor licence. We list these key requirements below for your reference:

• Already have trading presence and operate lawfully in the UK.

• Have relevant HR systems and procedures in place (we will guide you on this).

• Be honest, dependable and reliable (e.g. have HMRC/Tax, company affairs in good order and your Office Holders and Key Personnel must not have criminal offences and/or immigration offences on their record).

• Have at least one employee or Director who is ‘settled’ in the UK to fill the Key Personnel roles for your sponsor licence application.

• Be able to offer skilled jobs at the NQF Level 3 or above (the job must be skilled to at least level 3 NQF). The qualifying jobs are listed in the Immigration Rules Appendix Skilled Occupations. Further below we list the fishing industry jobs that are meeting the skill level for the Skilled Worker work visa.

• Be able to pay the minimum salary. Please see below for more details.

MINIMUM SALARY AND GENUINE VACANCY TEST FOR SPONSOR LICENCE

To meet the requirements for sponsor licence and work visa, you need to pay at least the minimum salary required for skilled worker visa. The key requirements are as follows:

Be able to pay the minimum salary required for the Skilled Worker visa (the minimum is normally not less than £26,200 gross per year OR the minimum for a particular job role, whichever of the two is higher. We recommend that you to read our other article on the minimum salary for Skilled Worker visa.

Regarding minimum salary, please note that from 7/08/2023 the Deckhand and Trawler Skipper jobs will be added to Shortage Occupation List and therefore will have minimum salary of £20,960 per year. We write about this update to Shortage Occupation List in our article on the Skilled Worker update 17/07/2023.

The Genuine vacancy test must be met. The jobs that you intend to offer to migrant workers must be genuinely required by your fishing business (i.e. those jobs are needed for your company’s operations and the jobs are not just created to facilitate the migrant’s entry to the UK) s the job must meet all the skilled worker visa requirements, including the minimum pay.

WHAT IS THE COST OF SPONSOR LICENCE AND WORK VISAS

The current application fee for sponsor licence is £536 for small sponsors or charities and £1,476 for other sponsors. There is an extra £500 fee if you decide to use the expedited processing.

The skilled worker visa shortage occupation is £479 and NHS Surcharge is £1,872, for 3-year visa. We prepared application fee calculator that will help you in understanding what fees you will have to pay.

The UK Government has recently announced changes to the visa fees and NHS Surcharge. You may want to read more about this in our article on the changes to Home Office fees.

FISHING JOBS ADDED TO SHORTAGE OCCUPATION LIST FOR SKILLED WORKERS

The below jobs will be added to the Shortage Occupation List on 7th August 2023. To support the fishing industry in becoming fully compliant with the immigration system following the implementation of Section 43 of the Nationality and Borders Act 2022, jobs in the fishing industry in the following occupations are also being added to the Shortage Occupation List:

• 5119 Agriculture and fishing trades not elsewhere classified (only fishing jobs added)

• 9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified.

WHAT FISHING JOBS QUALIFY FOR UK WORK VISA – DECKHAND AND SKIPPER

Examples of the jobs that qualify for UK Skilled Worker work visa are listed below. This will give you an idea what jobs are accepted for the Skilled Worker work visa. The complete list of jobs is available in the Home Office Appendix Skilled Occupations.


5119 Agricultural and fishing trades not elsewhere classified

• Share fisherman

• Trawler skipper

9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations not elsewhere classified – ONLY the listed job titles are eligible in this occupation code and ONLY where the job requires the worker to have at least 3 years’ full-time experience in using their skills. This experience must not have been gained through working illegally.

• Deckhand on large fishing vessel (9 metres and above)

OCCUPATION CODES THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR THE SKILLED WORKER

Some jobs (occupations) are specifically listed by the UK Home Office as not skilled enough for sponsored work visas. The minimum skill level required for Skilled Worker visa is NQF Level 3. The jobs that do not qualify for UK sponsored work visas in the fishing & seafood industry are listed below and for complete up to date list please always check Appendix Skilled Occupations.

9119 Fishing and other elementary agriculture occupations notelsewhere classified – all jobs not listed in Table 1

Fishing jobs excluded from skilled worker visa

I-VMS roll-out - when will those engineers be in your port?

I-VMS roll-out schedule released Following last week's announcement of the restart of the roll-out of Inshore Vessel Monitoring System (I-VMS) devices, MMO has released further details on the schedule and plan for English port visits.

From 9 August 2023, fishers have been able to purchase, and arrange the installation of, a type-approved device, either the Fulcrum NEMO or Succorfish SC2, directly with suppliers. To help both industry and suppliers coordinate installations effectively, MMO has shared information on a series of scheduled port visits running from 4 September to 30 November 2023.

The roll-out plan will see installation engineers available in fishers’ home ports for set periods, starting in ports with the highest numbers of registered vessels requiring the installation of a device. The first ports being targeted are:

Brixham

Eastbourne

Hastings

Mevagissey

Newlyn

Plymouth

Poole

Portsmouth

Scarborough

Whitby

Fishers that operate from these ports are being encouraged to book installations between 4 and 24 September 2023.

An additional 25 ports will be targeted from early October, including Shoreham-by-Sea, North Shields, Fleetwood, Isles of Scilly, Southwold and Weymouth. Engineers will then be available for bookings at a further 22 ports from late October, ensuring fishers across England are given the opportunity to choose, purchase and install I-VMS devices in advance of legislation coming into effect next year.

MMO is contacting fishers directly with dates and locations of engineer availability in their local port, which are also available online www.gov.uk/mmo/i-vms-england .

In line with assurances given to fishers, MMO has confirmed it will cover purchase and installation costs of up to £1,050 to support fishers to secure a suitable I-VMS device.

The process for fishers reclaiming purchase and installation costs has changed. Rather than waiting for installations and transmission of a ‘ping test’ of data to MMO, fishers can now claim their European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) grant with evidence of proof of purchase.

MMO aims to process all successful grant applications within 3-5 working days, meaning fishers could be reimbursed within a week of purchasing their device.

To meet grant payment conditions, fishers will need to claim by 30 November 2023, and ensure devices are installed within 90 days of purchase.

The focus of the roll-out plan is currently the over-6-metre fleet while MMO works with suppliers and industry to fully understand the practicalities of I-VMS for under-6-metre vessels and their inclusion in the roll-out.

While MMO is encouraging industry to adopt this roll-out plan, fishers can now book an installation directly with their preferred supplier between now and the 30 November. Those subject to existing legal requirements to operate a I-VMS device, either through IFCA or Welsh Government legislation, should take action immediately.

Anyone with a device already fitted which is no longer type-approved should not attempt to remove it themselves. The removal and safe disposal of any non-type-approved device is covered as part of the revised installation process.

I-VMS devices monitor inshore fishing activity and will, for the first time, provide a full picture of fishing vessel activity in English waters. I-VMS data will allow MMO to better represent fisheries in key activities such as quota negotiations and marine planning to improve sustainable and traceable fisheries management.

Tom McCormack, MMO Chief Executive said:

“MMO is fully committed to delivering on our promise to support industry to be ready for I-VMS and ensure fishers are fully prepared before the Statutory Instrument is implemented in 2024.

“MMO remains committed to supporting industry, which is why we have simplified the process for fishers to reclaim costs as quickly as possible, and worked in collaboration with device suppliers and installation engineers on this detailed roll-out schedule. It is our aim to make the installation process convenient and efficient for fishers, help reduce disruption to fishing activity, and best support industry.

“Our coastal teams at quaysides and MMO offices also remain on hand to support and assist, and our dedicated hotline will stay open throughout the roll-out to guide fishers through their next steps”.

The dedicated helpline set up to help with enquiries is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Fishers should call 01900 508618 or email ivms@marinemanagement.org.uk.

For more information, visit: www.gov.uk/mmo/i-vms-england

Monday morning in Newlyn.

Today should see a better day for the application of paint...

at this time of year, the yachts stopping over on passage tend to be that much larger in size and smaller in number...

the working deck...

of the visiting scalloper,  Las O'Doune

another visitor, this time, Brixham scalloper Our Heather...

sleek, new windfarm boat Honor Marie...

the dredger Manin has been busy working in Penzance dock...

a few weeks after the wrecks were broken up the Old Harbour is beginning to look in better shape then ever, hopefully plans to restore the overall condition to that of a fully-functioning working harbour for historic and local sail vessels will soon receive approval and work can begin after a Newlyn Old Quay and Harbour Archaeological assessment from Statement Heritage cited the national historical significance of the Old Harbour, its structure and place in history.....

mopored in Gwavas Lake, the classic sailing vessel Bessie Ellen is passed down by the crabber Francesca

work below the waterline of the inshore scalloper, Debbie V.

 

Medicals for fishermen? - what you need to know!

Catch the latest Fathom podcast on medicals for fishermen - advice and everything you need to know to keep you at sea.

Calling Cornish fishermen!

 

My name is Lottie - I am doing research on how there is less and less space for fishing boats because of other activities like wind farms, wave hiubs and marine protected areas (MPAs). I want to hear from fishermen about how this affects them.

If you would like to take part, I will interview you for about 40-60 minutes. We can meet in the harbour, a cafe, or online, whichever you prefer. I want to hear about your experiences and how these things are affecting you, and how it is affecting your community.

• I am interested in Learning about you 
• Hearing examples of any competition for space in reality 
• Hearing about how it might affect you 
• Hearing about how it might affect your community

Your participation is completely anonymous and you can opt out at any time. Your answers will help me understand how activities other than fishing are affecting some Cornish fishermen, which is an important issue that is often overlooked.

Thank you for your time.

Contact Information 

If you would like to participate or have any further queries, please contact Lottie Pearson at: cp752@exeter.ac.uk

Cracking Monday morning in Newlyn.

Hard to imagine 36 hours ago 70-80 knot gusts were hitting Lands End...

luckily they died away quick enough to allow many of the inshore fleet to get to sea and put fish on the market for Monday morning's auction...

as ever, ray figured heavily in the landings...

as did John Dory...

a fish associated with summer...

with many of the skippers looking specifically for them...

surprisingly there are also signs the big mediterranean octopus haven't quite moved on yet...

another BBQ favourite, smoothounds...

a quiet night also saw the sardine boats in action...

while Monday morning also saw the handliners make an early start for mackerel...

the big crabber, Winter of Ladram heads for a berth at the end of the quay to land...

she may be here for some time...

the start of another fne day at sea for the angling boat, Unleashed.

Learning the ropes or too young to go to sea?

In the light of several well publicised incidents Sarah Ready from NUTFA is looking for information from any fisherman who has given a young family member or friend an introduction to fishing aboard their vessel.

"I am looking at research as to how many fishermen take their child aboard their fishing vessel, even if just to unload when coming in, or for help with repairs and maintenance when tied up ashore, or just to watch as an observer/passenger for the day during a commercial fishing trip. I am specifically interested in children under the age of 15 going as a passenger at sea during school holidays, or helping within the fishing business generally onboard during refit or unloading of catch. Help with mending nets/gear on board, etc. If you are a fishermen who has started a long successful career at sea, starting at sea under the age of 15, please also make contact. I am trying to get an idea as to extent within the industry of how many fishing families can provide information and data."

All information will be treated entirely confidentially.

Please WhatsApp me on 07402 089170 or email on sarah@nutfa.co.uk 

Thank you. 

Sarah NUTFA

Fish of the week 33 Golden Haddock

This example was caught by seine net in deepwater in the SouthWest Approaches while fishing for haddock. The last one landed in Newlyn was by the netter, Ocean pride back in 2021.
 

As the name implies, the rare specimen has a golden hue, rather than the usual distinctive silver/dark grey colouring, and does not have the dark blotches and thumbprint markings that are the normal characteristics of the haddock. Fishery scientists say that this is caused by recessive genes from both parents of the fish, which result in either a golden or an albino effect, although the health of the fish and the fresh quality are not compromised.

A normal haddock has a much more distinctive lateral line marking and more obvious 'thumbprint' mark behind its gill plate.

Haddock is still hugely popular in local fish and chip shops and makes an ideal substitute for cod in any recipe that calls for whitefish. It has a stronger flavour than many whitefish and is better, like most fish under rather than over-cooked!

First bluefin tuna for the season on this fine #FishyFriday morning in Newlyn

For a change the clouds are currently keeping their contents from falling as the...

 

final few boxes flying off the auction floor...

the bulk of this morning's fish were top quality haddock...

and hake...

topped off with a few boxes of big scad...

and two kinds of gurnard...

but the star of the show this morning was the first bluefin tuna of the sardine season to be landed...

Quayside transport manoeuvre into a parking spot...

as the netting fleet sit out this big spring tide...

each of the anchors they use to secure the end of a tier of nets on the seabed weighs over 50kg and requires careful handling at sea.

Derrick disaster!

Taking up a berth at the end of the Mary Williams pier, the Acciona has her seine net ashore...

but no wonder young Ayrshire fisherman Aaron is happy...

as he's just landed this gorgeous golden haddock to boost his latest trip...

so his crew are happy enough too...

even tough there is plenty of time to be put in making sure there are no escape holes in heir seine net...

closely followed by a French catamaran...

assistant harbourmaster Jedna is busy briefing Jeremy prior to escorting the Elisabeth of Ladram into port...

Crystal Sea heads back out to sea, looks like Alec has a trip off...

plenty of scallops with...

the visiting scalloper Star of Jura...

you can't miss the replacement ladders being installed...

making her way slowly to the gaps...

shot from the wheelhouse while heading in...

with both beam trawls made fast alongside her hull...

she came tight yesterday in poor weather...

which resulted on both derricks...

collapsing under the strain...

she heads for a berth to make good the damage...

closely watched by fellow skippers and crew... 

as she makes her way in through the gaps.