New Fisheries Minister Robert Goodwill has used a visit to Grimsby to encourage European workers to continue to come and work in the sector, while flagging up the “great opportunities” to those at home.
Easing fears over supply as he underlined the tariff-free deals with key partners Iceland, Norway and The Faroes, he also told highlighted the aptly named Leave to Remain system being brought in, sending a clear message to the one-in-three EU economic migrant make-up of the seafood industry.
On the processing floor at Flatfish, where a multi-million pound expansion in training and manufacturing capacity was being unveiled, Mr Goodwill said: “In terms of the indigenous population, there is a good future in fish processing here in Grimsby, where you can start at the shop floor and work up. There are great opportunities here in fish processing. There are jobs available, with great training and great facilities.
“In terms of EU workers fish processing and farming, we will still have access to the EU, whatever the Brexit situation. Under a no deal situation they can work for three months and apply for leave to remain for another three years. The message we want to send out to EU workers already here, is to encourage friends to come, there will still be great opportunities here in fish processing and food processing and agriculture. Whatever the situation it will still be possible.”
The application has to be made in the first three months of being in the 海角视频, and is designed to fill the gap with any end to free movement ahead of the proposed new skills-based immigration system, anticipated in 2021
The EU settlement scheme for those who arrived before Britain leaves was also flagged up by Mr Goodwill, who replaced George Eustice following his resignation over the Brexit delay back in February.
Mr Goodwill was shown the facility, where North Sea hake was being filleted for retail and foodservice, while whole plaice were packaged for supermarket wet fish counters.
“Most people in the country don’t realise what Grimsby does know, and that is that we export most of the fish we catch and import most we process,” Mr Goodwill said. “Most of the fish has been caught by Iceland, The Faroes and Norway and the good news is we will not have tariffs on imports from those countries if it comes to a no deal. I hope very much to have a deal.
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“The challenge will be continuing to export species we catch into the European market.”
He started the day on Grimsby Fish Market before taking in Alfred Enderby’s smokehouse, with a meeting at Young’s Seafood before lunch at Papa’s on Cleethorpes Pier.
Of the surroundings, the North Yorkshire Conservative said: “It is state of the art, they have got a level of equipment that can fillet fish automatically, and also, very highly skilled staff, and I’ve seen how difficult it is to fillet a monkfish – these people make it look easy.
“They have really well trained staff, committed staff and investment – with Japanese partners recognising the professionalism we see now – not just here but across Grimsby.
“We may not have the landings here, but what is being processed here goes to a high value market, be it Michelin starred restaurants, Waitrose or the Lincolnshire Co-op.”
Mr Goodwill was accompanied by Seafish chief executive Marcus Coleman.
He said: “He has only recently been appointed in this fisheries role and I know the minister is keen to get around the 海角视频. It is a real pleasure to be able to bring him to Grimsby and welcome him.
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“We wanted to give him a broad range of experiences, to give him that insight across industry.”
Challenges were addressed, including supply of material – both quota levels and friction free border crossings – as well as skills, labour and plastics, investment and consolidation.