Western Isles MP welcomes UKBA decision

Angus Macneil

Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil has welcomed the announcement from the United Kingdom Border Agency that non EU fishermen will be allowed to work on fishing boats within Scottish waters subject to certain conditions.

This issue has been a cause for concern for many fishing boat skippers in the islands, and I am now glad that after much work the issue has been resolved.

Mr MacNeil commented:

“This had been a long term issue, which I have been working on for the past 2 years, and during that time have been in close dialogue with industry leaders and fishing boat skippers and also the UKBA. This also needed liaison with the Immigration Minister Phil Woolas MP, who listened to sensible argument on the issue.

“I am glad to see that common sense has prevailed, and that many of the hard working fishermen from non EU countries will now be allowed to return and work on the boats they had previously been working on.

“These fishermen are valued crew members, and it will mean that many fishing boat owners will not now be in a predicament as to whether they could go to sea or not.

“Many people have worked hard to achieve this result, and I am glad that this decision will be welcomed by many in the industry.”

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