Question to the Department for Transport:

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department has taken to communicate to the fishing community the (a) requirements to hold a medical certificate and (b) deadlines for applications for such certificates.

The requirement to hold a medical certificate has formed part of the Maritime and Coastguard Agency’s (MCA) ongoing communication and engagement with the fishing community since the regulations were made in 2018. Over the last year, as the deadline approached, the MCA has intensified its communication to raise awareness of the requirements and the deadlines for applications for medical certificates. This included MCA officials attending 36 roadshows in locations around the UK coast to engage with individual fishers. The MCA has also utilised social media, the fishing press, local and national radio to ensure the message was put out to a wide audience. Additionally, the MCA has met regularly with fishing industry representatives to discuss the medical certification requirements and update them on the progress of implementation.