New Report Reveals the Hidden Workforce Behind the UK’s Charter Boat Fleet

The Angling Trust has published the first national report into the working lives of the UK’s charter boat skippers, revealing the challenges faced by a vital but often overlooked part of the maritime sector.

Produced through the Angling Trust’s Charter Boat Officer programme and funded by The Seafarers’ Charity, Working Lives at Sea: Impact & Priorities Report 2025/26 presents an updated assessment of the UK charter boat sector. The report identifies more than 530 vessels across the UK and Ireland and establishes a core fleet of over 230 active charter boats.

The Angling Trust would like to thank The Seafarers’ Charity for its support in funding the Charter Boat Officer role, enabling this important work to take place. The programme has transformed understanding of the sector, created new networks of support and given charter skippers a stronger voice in national policy discussions, with the support of the Professional Boatman’s Association. The Trust is now actively seeking further funding to continue the charter boat programme and build on the progress made during its first year.

The report shows that charter skippers are predominantly experienced, self-employed seafarers, with 60% aged between 46 and 65, 86% having more than 20 years’ experience at sea, and around 98% operating as sole traders.

Throughout the programme’s first year, the Angling Trust engaged directly with skippers through national surveys, monthly online forums, port visits and one-to-one support. Despite operating licensed vessels, carrying paying passengers and taking responsibility for safety at sea, many skippers reported feeling excluded from welfare provision, funding opportunities and wider industry support available to other maritime sectors.

Jemma Jewkes, Charter Boat Officer at the Angling Trust, said:

“For too long, the UK’s charter boat skippers have been an overlooked part of the maritime community, despite carrying the same responsibilities, pressures and risks faced by other professional seafarers. This report shows that behind every charter vessel is a skilled skipper managing safety, livelihoods and the realities of working at sea—often alone.

“Thanks to the support of The Seafarers’ Charity, we have begun to shine a light on this hidden workforce, building the first national picture of their working lives and creating a platform for their voices to be heard. The message from skippers is clear: they want recognition, support and a fair opportunity to thrive. Our job now is to ensure they remain visible and that the foundations laid this year lead to lasting change.”

The report identifies a number of common challenges facing charter skippers, including rising operating costs, increasing regulatory complexity, limited access to funding for safety equipment and vessel improvements, competition from unlicensed operators, and growing concerns around mental health and isolation.

It also highlights significant achievements during the programme’s first year, including the creation of a national engagement network, regular skipper forums, improved access to welfare support and stronger representation of charter skipper interests in fisheries and maritime policy.

Looking ahead, the report sets out five priorities for the sector:

• Developing dedicated welfare and wellbeing support for charter skippers.
• Improving access to safety and vessel funding.
• Increasing regulatory clarity.
• Strengthening enforcement against illegal operators.
• Maintaining a national voice for the charter boat sector.

Hannah Rudd, Head of Marine at the Angling Trust, said:

“This report demonstrates the real value of investing in the people who make the UK’s charter boat sector possible. Thanks to The Seafarers’ Charity, with the support of the Professional Boatman’s Association, we’ve been able to establish meaningful relationships with skippers across the country, better understand the challenges they face and begin driving positive change. However, this work is far from finished. We are now seeking further funding to continue the charter boat programme work so that we can maintain this momentum, strengthen support for skippers and ensure the sector has the representation it deserves for years to come.”

The report reinforces the importance of recognising charter skippers as a distinct seafaring workforce. With the foundations now in place, the Angling Trust believes there is a significant opportunity to deliver lasting support and representation for a sector that has spent decades operating in plain sight.

Read the Report

Working Lives at Sea: Impact & Priorities Report 2025/26 is also available to download here.

Notes

• Working Lives at Sea: Impact & Priorities Report 2025/26 was produced by the Angling Trust’s charter boat officer programme with funding from The Seafarers’ Charity.
• The programme identified more than 530 charter vessels across the UK and Ireland and established a contactable core fleet of over 230 active charter boats.
• The findings are based on national surveys, monthly forums, in-person engagement at ports across the UK and direct support provided to charter skippers throughout 2025/26.