Immigrations rules putting Scots fishing industry at risk (Yes BREXIT but also the third country nationals restrictions)
SCOTLAND's lucrative west coast fishing fleet is on the brink of collapse due to a "crazy" immigration law which effectively prohibits non-European nationals from fishing on local boats, it has been warned. The Clyde Fishermen's Association has revealed that 20 of 65 members' boats have gone under in the last year and a half because they cannot recruit internationally. Now the CFA is warning there is an expectation that another six boats may go out of business in Campbeltown very shortly – which would cut membership by almost half. The CFA say the issues extend to the entire west coast, with boats also tied up on Barra because they cannot get crew to man them. (....) It is estimated that nearly one in five of the 8000 crew on the Scottish fishing fleet are non-EEA workers, with a further 400 from within the EEA. Most use a transit visa to enter the UK, which allows them to work on vessels fishing more than 12 nautical miles off the UK coastline. ...