News - NFFO

Victory on medicals for under 10s, but the fight goes on

27 March 2024

After extensive campaigning by the NFFO, the government has today announced a partial reversal of its policy on medical certification for fishermen. Anyone fishing for 4 weeks or more on a UK under 10m boat between 30th November 2021 and 29th November 2023 is now exempt from the requirement to hold a medical fitness certificate.

Government Change of Heart on Medicals Follows NFFO Campaign

16 January 2024

After months of campaigning from the NFFO, the government is considering changing the rules on medical certificates for small boat fishers.

The NFFO has written to the Transport Minister, asking for an urgent meeting on medical assessments for fishermen.

30 March 2023

By November, all fishermen will be required to have a medical fitness certificate in order to continue to work at sea. This ill-considered, unnecessary and harmful regulation could prove devastating to the inshore fleet, with long-standing and well-managed medical conditions potentially leading to the refusal of a certificate. The cost, stress and lost sea time involved are unjustifiable. Despite the NFFO meeting repeatedly with MCA officials and lobbying ministers to explain the seriousness of the situation, nothing has been done. This is now becoming desperate. Livelihoods will be lost and the looming mental health crisis in fishing communities will be worsened. The government must act to undo the harm that their regulations are causing. The NFFO is calling on the minister responsible to meet with us, to discuss how this state of affairs will be resolved.

The Seafarers’ Charity funds safety film for fishing vessels

24 October 2022

The Seafarers’ Charity has funded a new information film to help fishers meet new MCA inspection standards.

NFFO Plea to Minister on MCA Safety Code

13 May 2022

An NFFO delegation recently met with Transport Minister, Robert Courts MP, to make the case for a review of the way that the Under-15m Safety Code is currently being applied. The Federation has received multiple approaches from fishermen “at the end of their tether” as the MCA applies the new regime introduced in September last year.

The Seafarers’ Charity grant award assists appointment of new NFFO Safety Lead

25 April 2022

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Risk, Safety and Training Lead. The post is partially supported by a three- year grant from The Seafarers’ Charity.

Home & Dry – Stability Campaign

10 December 2021

The latest Home and Dry campaign, led by the Fishing Industry Safety Group, focuses on the issue of vessel stability.

Changes Ahead to Safety in Fishing

24 July 2017

As part of the preparation for the implementation of ILO C188, the first meeting of a special Fishing Industry Safety Group (FISG) to develop a voluntary safety management code was held at the NFFO office in York.

NFFO Offers Fishermen EU Funding to Improve Vessel Safety

27 May 2015

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) is offering fishermen financial support in a bid to cut accidents at sea.

Safety Digests Are Lifesavers

20 October 2014

NFFO Supports Marine Accident Investigation Branch’s Latest Safety Digest

NFFO Focuses On Safety With New Recruit

23 April 2014

The National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) has reinforced its commitment to individual safety and reducing accidents at sea with the appointment of Robert Greenwood as Safety and Training Officer.

NFFO Training Trust and Anglo-North Irish FPO Work together on Fishing Vessel Safety

3 May 2013

The initiatives undertaken by the Anglo-North Irish Fish Producer Organisation, supported by a grant from the NFFO Training Trust, is improving safety of fishing vessels and their crews in the Irish Sea.