Public body Seafish has released new guidance to help fishing industry employers navigate changes to UK immigration policy that will affect the recruitment and retention of migrant workers.
Government announcements made in October 2025 outline 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.
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.
Seafish explained 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, it said.
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 31 December 2026 which is expected to impact regions where fleets rely heavily on migrant labour.
Seafish Head of Industry Workforce Issues Neil McAleese said the 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 workforce planning and ensure continued compliance. Acting now is crucial for businesses that rely on foreign labour,” he said.
The new guidance is available on the Seafish website: Briefing Note - Skilled Visa Changes (Nov 25) — Seafish.
