“These changes will have far-reaching consequences for the UK fishing industry. ” -Neil McAleese, Seafish Head of Industry Workforce Issues.

The UK Labour Government has continued the previous Tory administrations pledges to make it harder for people to come to this country to live and work. Labour has gone even further than the Tories and has overhauled the immigration system – the largest such change in over 50 years.

These changes seriously affect people who legally wish to work and live in the UK, but also the many sectors who rely on the expertise and skills they bring with them.

One of those sectors is Scotland’s fishing industry. Seafish, the body that represents the industry has issued guidance to its members on dealing with the new legislation.

In a Statement release by Seafish it said that the Government announcements made in October 2025 were substantial reforms that will reshape how the industry can access overseas labour using the Skilled Worker Visa (SWV) system. 

These changes, which come into force throughout 2026, will place added responsibility on employers to plan ahead and adapt their workforce strategies leading to Seafish, the public body that supports the UK seafood industry, to develop its new guidance which is available online now. 

Some changes which will affect the fishing industry include a rise in the English language threshold for migrant workers in the UK, and their partners. 

The Temporary Short List concession will end in December 2026 and fishing related roles will not appear on future shortage occupation lists. 

While there are indications that the government may introduce transitional arrangements for those already in the UK on a Skilled Worker Visa, these have not yet been confirmed. 

Accordingly, there is no confirmation at this stage whether a visa holder will be able to renew their visa under the same SOC code after 31 December 2026. 

Among the significant risks for employers is a new regulation that will end overseas hiring for fishing roles from December 31, 2026 which is expected to impact regions where fleets rely heavily on migrant labour. 

Seafish Head of Industry Workforce Issues, Neil McAleese, said:

“These changes will have far-reaching consequences for the UK fishing industry. 

“Our new guidance is designed to equip employers with clear, practical information to support support workforce planning and ensure continued compliance.

“Acting now is crucial for businesses that rely on foreign labour.” 

The new guidance is available now on the Seafish website. Click here to access it. Briefing Note – Skilled Visa Changes (Nov 25) — Seafish

In September 2024 Seafish created a series of SWV guides to help employers navigate the various regulations. 

Those guides are available here Employing workers from outside the UK | Seafish 

Fiona Grahame