The Jobseeker’s Allowance Regulations 1996

Additional conditions for payment of a jobseeker’s allowance

161.—(1) It shall be an additional condition with respect to the payment of a jobseeker’s allowance to a share fisherman in respect of any week, that in respect of any period in that week when he has not worked as a share fisherman, he proves that he has not neglected to avail himself of a reasonable opportunity of employment as a share fisherman.

(2) The following provisions shall apply for the purposes of the application of paragraph (1)—

(a) work as a share fisherman within the meaning of paragraph (1) shall include any of the work specified in sub-paragraph (b) which at the time of its performance is necessary for the safety or reasonable efficiency of the fishing boat, or is likely to become so necessary in the near future, and which it is the duty of the share fisherman (whether by agreement, custom, practice or otherwise) to undertake without remuneration other than by way of a share in the profits or gross earnings of the fishing boat, but any other work done to the fishing boat or its nets or gear shall be disregarded; and

(b) the work so included by sub-paragraph (a) is any work done to the fishing boat or its nets or gear by way of repairs (including running repairs) or maintenance, or in connection with the laying up of the boat and its nets and gear at the end of a fishing season or their preparation for a season’s fishing.

(3) It shall be a further additional condition with respect to the payment of a contribution-based jobseeker’s allowance to a share fisherman in respect of any week that, where he is master or a member of the crew of a fishing boat of which either the master or any member of the crew is the owner or part owner, he must also prove that in respect of any period in that week when he was not working as a share fisherman, the fishing boat did not put to sea with a view to fishing for the reason—

(a) that on account of the state of the weather the fishing boat could not reasonably have put to sea with a view to fishing; or

(b) that the fishing boat was undergoing repairs or maintenance, not being repairs or maintenance to which paragraph (2) relates; or

(c) that there was an absence of fish from any waters in which the fishing boat could reasonably be expected to operate; or

(d) that any other good cause necessitated abstention from fishing.