Seafood sector jobs to be added to the shortage occupations list

As of summer 2023, employers and prospective employees in the seafood sector will be able to benefit from lower salary requirements and lower applications fees when recruiting share fishermen, trawler skippers and experienced deckhands on large fishing vessels from overseas. 

The UK's immigration minister, Robert Jenrick, has stated: “We are backing the UK fishing industry with a comprehensive package of support to ensure that they are able to fully benefit from the fish in UK waters. We strongly encourage the sector to engage with this to ensure they can attract the workers they need.”

The changes are set to be implemented ahead of the summer fishing season. It builds on a comprehensive package of support for the sector, which includes:

• Guiding them through the visa and sponsor application process as well as the broader immigration system.
• Ensuring there is sufficient capacity for English language testing slots.
• Expediting visa and sponsor applications, further quickening the decision making process for no extra charge.
• Dedicated points of contact in UK Visas and Immigration for the sector.

What is a shortage occupations list?
This is a list of occupations in the UK that are deemed to have a shortage of skilled workers. When an occupation is included on this list, it provides a number of benefits for both employees and their prospective employers. The benefits include reduced skilled worker fees (£479 for a three-year visa instead of £625), a lower salary threshold for visa applications (a 20 percent lower salary threshold, of £20,960 instead of £26,200) and a streamlined immigration process.