Anthony spent a great deal of time over the past four years standing up for fishers, including highlighting concerns about the impact of ML5 medical certificates on small businesses.
Last autumn, regulations came into effect requiring fishers working on small UK-flagged vessels to have a certificate of medical fitness. Certain exemptions were granted in November 2023 (more information here) following Anthony's campaign, as these regulations would have an adverse impact on lone workers and small inshore fishermen,
Therefore, working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA), today the Department for Transport is launching a consultation to see how small-scale fishers can fish as safely as possible.
Unlike larger fishing operations, those who operate vessels of 10 metres and under are usually independent, which is why the Department for Transport is seeing how to best improve safety in the industry without forcing small-scale fishers ashore. The MCA is consulting on an exemption for those who have already been working on vessels of 10 metres and under for at least four weeks between 30 November 2022 and 30 November 2023.
Following the consultation, the Department for Transport will consider the potential exemption and ensure that we properly respond to the views and evidence provided.
The consultation will close on 27 February 2024, so all those affected are encouraged to take part.
Find all the information here: www.gov.uk/government/consultations/medical-exemption-existing-fishers-…
Having met with the Maritime Minister, the Secretary of State and the Fisheries Minister on many occasions, I am pleased that the Government has shown its commitment to supporting a thriving and sustainable fishing industry by listening and launching a consultation on this issue.
While it is important that we don't lower standards, we must support our fishermen without adding unneccesary bureaucracy.