The attention given to UK fisheries tends to revolve around the fishing industry, but there is much more to the sector. The processing, fishmongering and retail industries are integral to the supply chain, so it is important that they are considered within Parliament.
The number of people employed within these industries is significant - the seafood processing industry alone supplies around 18,000 jobs in the UK - but there are concerns that not enough young people are being recruited to sustain this workforce, despite improvements in working conditions. Although labour costs have risen, the demand for seafood is increasing, creating opportunity for the sector to expand and potentially resolve recruitment issues.
Our second open meeting of 2019 will address these issues and discuss potential solutions. We will cover how to make these careers attractive for both new recruits and long-term employees; the importance of supply chain sustainability; and the importance of international agreements for trade and employment.