The Department for Transport has today announced that an exemption is being introduced from the requirement to hold medical certification for those individuals who currently work on fishing vessels of 10 metres and under in length.
Secretary of State Mark Harper MP says the new measure is a sensible and proportionate step that balances our obligations to protect the health of fishers with their right to continue to earn a living in the industry in which some have worked for their entire adult lives.
I have spent a great deal of time over the past four years standing up for fishers, including highlighting concerns about the impact of these medical certificates on small businesses. I am therefore pleased to hear that the Government is listening to the fishing community and removing bureaucratic restrictions that stand in the way of us having a successful and profitable fishing sector.
For fishers in Brixham, Dartmouth and Salcombe as well as and day boats inbetween, this announcement could not be more welcome and needed.
I hope it unlocks a greater appetite for further reduction in unnecessary legislation.
The exemption for existing fishers will take immediate effect and will apply to fishing vessels registered in any part of the United Kingdom. An existing fisher is someone who was working on a UK-registered fishing vessel of 10 metres and under for 4 weeks or more during the period 30 November 2021 to 29 November 2023. Please also be aware that the requirement for medical certification for fishers joining the industry in the future and for fishers on boats over 10 metres in length will continue to apply.
Read more about the recent consultation and the Government's response here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/medical-exemption-existing-…