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National Lost Trawlermen’s Memorial Day
13 December 2021
Lead MP
Karl Turner
Debate Type
Adjournment Debate
Tags
Foreign Affairs
Other Contributors: 2
At a Glance
Karl Turner raised concerns about national lost trawlermen’s memorial day in the House of Commons. A government minister responded. Other MPs also contributed.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The MP Karl Turner highlighted the annual commemoration of lost trawlermen in Hull, noting its significance and history. He emphasised that fishing was dangerous and historically tied to both peace and war efforts, with fishermen playing crucial roles during World War I and II. Turner also discussed the 'headscarf revolutionaries' who fought for safety improvements post-tragedies such as the triple trawler tragedy in 1968. He advocated for a national Lost Trawlermen's Day to officially commemorate these sacrifices and contributions, stressing its importance beyond Hull to all fishing communities across the UK.
The hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull East was congratulated on his debate, acknowledging the bravery of trawlermen and highlighting a recent tragedy involving the fishing vessel Nicola Faith.
Lia Nici
Lab
Great Grimsby
Lia Nici added her condolences to those who lost loved ones in fishing tragedies, citing Winston Churchill’s recognition of fishermen's hard work and dedication.
Government Response
Minister Robert Courts acknowledged the importance of recognising the sacrifices made by trawlermen. He noted the high fatalities among Hull’s fishing community over a century, emphasising the need to honour their service in peace and war times. The Minister praised the headscarf revolutionaries’ work post-1968 triple trawler tragedy for safety improvements. While fatalities have significantly reduced from 60 annually in the 1960s to an average of six recently due to enhanced safety measures, Courts stressed that more needed to be done to protect those still working in this dangerous industry today. The Minister agreed to explore further a national memorial day and committed efforts towards eliminating preventable fatalities by 2027 through improved risk assessments, vessel stability requirements, personal flotation devices, and training initiatives.
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