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Highlights the work of the Whitby Lobster Hatchery which has released 25,000 baby lobsters into the ocean, stressing the importance of trading and selling lobsters for Yorkshire's economy.
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Noted that most skippers in his constituency carry significant debt, warning about the potential severe consequences of quota reallocation on these communities.
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Argues that collaboration with fishing communities is essential to achieve shared goals such as fish stock recovery and safeguarding a sustainable future for the fishing industry.
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Highlighted labour shortages as a significant issue in Northern Ireland's fishing industry, impacting 30% of prawn catches this year. Suggested the need for action on visas to address this problem.
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Brixham fishing port in South Devon, valued at £60 million annually and exporting 70% of its catch to the EU, faces significant challenges post-Brexit due to administrative burdens, quota cuts, and policy complexity. Fishermen feel betrayed by unmet promises made during the referendum campaign.
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Suggests that negotiations should start from a position of strength to achieve better results, emphasizing the need for firmness alongside kindness.
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Jim Shannon emphasised the importance of fishing for his constituency and Northern Ireland's food security. He highlighted issues with seasonal visas, urging the government to provide the same certainty given to other sectors like horticulture and poultry. Shannon also raised concerns about potential attempts by the Irish Government to claim UK herring quota through flawed science and called on the Minister to protect the fishing sector from such interference. Suggested that the Minister should speak to the Immigration Minister about implementing a seasonal worker status system for fishermen, similar to what has been done for poultry and horticulture sectors.
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The speaker from Fleetwood highlighted how Brexit led to the destruction of fish exports from their area, emphasizing that legislation could secure jobs on Fleetwood dock. She mentioned that a van used to come every Monday to collect fish for export to France, but this has not happened since leaving the EU.
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Asked whether an adversarial approach is beneficial for the fishing industry post-2026, suggesting that preventing interventions during historical speeches could hinder cross-party consensus. Brinkmanship as a solution is risky; fishermen have faced disappointment due to previous governments' failures. The current moment should focus on security for fishing communities, not simple solutions. The speaker criticised the previous government's proposals, noting that distant-water fishermen have been significantly affected. The UK now has only one operating distant water ship with a catch reduction of 70% under the current government's leadership. Welcomed the establishment of a University of Lincoln centre of excellence in her constituency, focusing on high-need skills in the processing sector to support local people into well-paid jobs.
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She expressed confusion about the debate topic, stating that she was under the impression it would be focused on fishing rather than another subject.
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The EU's over-regulation has harmed fishing industries. The opportunity in 2026 is to reset control over waters, prioritising no deal over a bad one, decoupling energy and fishing negotiations.
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The speaker thanked the hon. Member for Great Yarmouth for securing the debate and highlighted the importance of fish as a valuable resource for the UK, advocating for support for coastal communities and the fishing industry. He questioned the progress made by the government in supporting the fishing sector since Brexit and expressed concern over the lack of mention of fishing in the Labour manifesto.
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Suggested that visa administration for hard-pressed sectors in fishing could be devolved to local Administrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Fishing is crucial to Aberdeenshire's economy, contributing £153 million in gross value added in 2021. Labour and Tory Brexit policies have led to economic challenges due to labour shortages and increased trade barriers, causing a significant increase in transport and packaging costs. Asked the Minister to address labour shortages through new visa arrangements.
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Discusses the importance of oyster beds in North Norfolk, noting that they are excellent at sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and can play a special part in tackling climate change.
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He requested to speak after Rachel Gilmour's intervention but no further content is provided for his contribution. Expressed concerns over foreign ownership of fishing quotas and advocated for a system that distributes quotas to local authorities to support coastal communities. Mentioned the importance of considering economic linkages and fair distribution based on national resources. The issue of low fishing activity is not about access but ownership concentration; the quota should be distributed fairly to ensure communities benefit, rather than blaming foreign entities for lack of access. Suggested that the hon. Member could refer to the Western Isles.