In a debate on the fishing industry, Labour MP Anna Gelderd has called for a “help-to-buy” scheme for fishing vessels and funded training pathways to secure the industry’s future. Gelderd, who represents South East Cornwall, warned that communities in her constituency are being “diminished” not just by the reduced number of vessels, but by the difficulty for fishermen to make a living and support their families.
Gelderd argued that young people are currently unable to board fishing vessels until the age of 16, despite this being the prime age for learning practical skills. She also highlighted the lack of structured support and mentoring to pass on traditional knowledge, safety guidelines, and best practices between generations.
“A properly funded mentoring and training pathway – along with help to buy schemes for boats, licences, and quota – would make fishing a realistic career again, rather than a closed shop,” Gelderd told the Commons.
Meanwhile, MPs have also warned that fishing companies could be severely affected if rules on overseas hiring end in December. Torcuil Crichton, Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar, said his constituency off the west coast of Scotland had been affected by depopulation, leaving a lack of working-age people.
The Conservative government had introduced changes in 2023 to make it easier to hire fishermen, skippers and deckhands from overseas due to workforce shortages. Crichton said the government’s support in “flexing these requirements would be appreciated, and the effect of that is quite obvious.”
Jim Shannon, the Democratic Unionist Party MP for Strangford, also described the December “cliff edge” for skilled worker visas as “really worrying” for the industry in his constituency. He called for a dedicated immigration route for fishing crew, post-2026, to protect British businesses while a recruitment drive seeks to source more domestic labour.
Seamus Logan, the SNP MP for Aberdeenshire North and Moray East, went further, saying Home Office visa restrictions were “suffocating the growth of fishing in Scotland.” He demanded the minister lobby the Home Office so that industries in his area can thrive.
Food security minister Dame Angela Eagle acknowledged it was “hard” to recruit into the fishing sector, as “entry into the industry requires significant investment.” She promised the sector’s concerns would be “properly represented” to Home Office ministers.
With recruitment challenges, visa issues, and the need for investment, the fishing industry appears to be facing an uncertain future. The calls for government support and a dedicated immigration route suggest the sector is in need of urgent attention to secure its long-term viability.
