Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs Minister, Andrew Muir, has held high-level meetings with Isle of Man government ministers to address pressing issues regarding the rights of fishing crews.

During the visit to Douglas, Minister Muir met with the Isle of Man's Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture, Clare Barber, and Treasury Minister, Chris Thomas. The primary focus of the talks was the uncertainty faced by the Northern Ireland fishing industry due to specific immigration permissions required for overseas workers operating within Manx waters.

Speaking on the purpose of his visit, Minister Muir stated: "I was glad to be able to travel to the Isle of Man today to meet with Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture Clare Barber and Treasury Minister Chris Thomas. "Isle of Man waters are critically important to Northern Ireland's fishing fleets. Immigration permissions required by overseas workers to fish within Manx waters have caused uncertainty for Northern Ireland's fishing industry. That's why I made this journey as soon as this issue was brought to my attention, to engage with Isle of Man government ministers directly."

Minister Muir expressed gratitude for the reception he received and the constructive nature of the dialogue. He noted that the discussions focused on identifying practical steps to prevent disproportionate impacts on the Northern Ireland fishing fleet.

In addition to addressing current crew challenges, the visit provided an opportunity for the Minister to gain insights into the Isle of Man's approach to maritime management. "I am thankful to the Ministers and their officials for what was a productive discussion on practical solutions to avoid disproportionate impacts on Northern Ireland vessels. I was very interested to learn about the research being undertaken in the Isle of Man to future-proof a sustainable fishing industry and the government's willingness to share and collaborate on science in relation to this," he added.