and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation met recently with the Migration Advisory Committee at the Home Office, to underscore the consequences for the fishing industry if the UK Borders Agency continues to pursue its current policy of repatriating Filipino fishermen brought to the UK on transit visas. Transit visas are primarily designed for the merchant marine when a non-EEA national is allowed to join a ship before a voyage but had been used as a means to fill the crew shortage afflicting many ports in Scotland, Northern Ireland and the East Coast of England.
The urgency of reconsideration of the policy was stressed, given that many vessels in the fleet are now dependent on skilled fishermen from the Philippines. Recovering economies and an adverse exchange rate has all but ended the supply of fishermen from Eastern Europe.
There are signs that political pressure may have persuaded the Borders Agency to ease back on repatriations whilst the ramifications of the policy are examined.
The possibility of placing fishermen on the Home Office skill shortage list is also being examined as a possible solution.
