Fat fishermen catch a break after ban stopping them from going to sea if they were too heavy is lifted by the Transport Secretary

Fat fishermen have been given a break after a ban on working at sea if they are overweight was lifted by the Transport Secretary following complaints from the industry.

Mark Harper has ended rules requiring all fishing boat crew to obtain a health certificate before heading out onto the waters.

The ‘ridiculous’ law, introduced last November, stated that trawlermen could not board fishing boats unless they had a body mass index (BMI) of less than 35. A BMI of 30 or more is classified as obese.

This means that an average male of 1.80 meters tall who weighs more than 17.5 kg, or a man of 1.80 meters tall, aged around 19 years, will not be allowed on fishing boats.

But following a huge backlash from the fishing industry, the Transport Secretary announced yesterday in Newlyn Harbor in Cornwall that the requirement would be scrapped.

He said the decision, which was “welcomed” by fishermen, showed the “government’s support for our fishing industry.”

Mr Harper said: “This government supports our fishing industry. That’s why we’ve listened to fishing communities and are easing the burden on small-scale fishermen to ensure they can continue their work unhindered.

‘Our fishing industry will continue to operate safely, protected by our world-leading safety standards, while supporting the UK fishing industry, which is the backbone of so many coastal economies.’

The Ministry of Transport initially said the decision was made to prevent fishermen from risking their own lives at work.

But now the DfT says waiving the requirement for routine medical checks for fishermen on vessels of 10 meters or less will ‘ease the financial burden and provide support to Britain’s fishing communities’.

It said the decision was made “so that small-scale fishing companies are not unnecessarily forced ashore and financially burdened by the costs of medical examinations.”

The rules could also have led to a shortage of fishing workers, industry leaders said.

Fisheries Secretary Mark Spencer said: ‘Vessels of 10 meters and under are a vital part of the UK fishing industry, and today we are taking action to ensure those who work on them do not face the cost of medical examinations.

‘Following our consultation, we have listened to the industry, and these changes will ensure that fishermen can continue their important work productively and as safely as possible.’

Britain agreed to adopt the rules, which came from the Geneva-based UN agency the International Labor Organization, following a Work in Fishing Convention in 2018.

But following criticism from the industry, the rules now only apply to larger boats over 10 meters in length.