NEW ZEALAND FOREIGN FISHING CREW CAP REMOVED

New Zealand foreign fishing crew cap removed. Starting 2 December 2024, seafood operators in New Zealand will no longer need an allocation to bring in fishing crew from overseas. The Government’s decision to scrap the annual cap of 940 Foreign Fishing Crew (FFC) Visas is a win for the sector, alleviating a significant headache for many operators.

Seafood New Zealand, along with a number of you in the industry, has been pushing hard to get this cap removed for some time. It was introduced in October 2022 as part of the Seafood Sector Agreement, which aimed to help land-based processors fill entry-level roles during and after COVID-19. Unfortunately, the FFC visa was rolled into the agreement, a cap was added—and it was too low.

Seafood New Zealand says:

“The process since then has been frustrating. Operators have been required to submit expressions of interest each year to request crew numbers, only to have their requests reduced to fit within the 940-person cap. With demand far exceeding the allowed limit, this placed additional strain on a sector already under significant pressure.

“Now, with the cap gone, things should get easier. But, when it comes to the FFC visa, we’re not done yet. Over the next year, we’ll continue to work with officials to encourage the Government to undertake a full review of the FFC policy settings and immigration rules. Our aim is to make the process simpler and to reduce costs, to ensure the seafood sector can thrive and continue to contribute to New Zealand’s export goals.

“We also remain 100 percent committed to growing and supporting a local workforce. We are currently delivering on our workforce development strategy that focuses on attracting and keeping Kiwis in the industry, providing education and training, gathering better workforce data and investing in automation. It’s a long-term plan, but we’re confident it will pay off.”

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