There is a strong reliance on migrant fishers in the UK’s fishing industry. Lack of worker protections and oversight, poor conditions, and a significant power imbalance between worker and employer has meant little oversight of the (mis)-use of the Code 7 (contract seaman) stamp to employ migrant fishers inside UK waters. The Code 7 stamp permits migrants to transfer to another vessel and prohibits employment within the UK. 

Migrant fishers, however, have little control over where the vessel they work on fishes. The misuse of the Code 7 stamp to employ migrant fishers in UK waters renders these workers in breach of the immigration rules. They are resultantly unlikely to speak out about exploitation or attempt to enforce their rights for fear of immigration removal. 

There is an urgent need in the context of the Border Security, Immigration and Asylum Bill for the UK to examine the use of the stamp to employ migrant fishers and to make recommendations about how all workers employed in British waters can access rights as workers. 

This briefing for Peers explores the issues migrant fishers face, and the amendment Lords will consider on it.