Three years ago, the RN had three fully manned squadrons sitting southside, with 899 as the HQ SHAR unit with ~ 16 pilots. IIRC the two deployable squadrons had 6 a/c each with (at peacetime rates) 9-10 pilots. That gives 34-36 trained/training aircrew and there had been no such rumbles of impending shortages - quite the contrary, the expectation was that CVF was going to lead to bigger 10-12 a/c squadrons with concomitant increase in aircrew strength.
I suspect that the loss of 899 and the subsequent folding in of that unit to the RAF OCU had a lot to do with the present shortage, although going to Cott will also have had a major impact. On top of that, there is no FAA Flag officer to fight the corner any more. Rear Adm FAA is now a sub-function of 2SL, rather than a dedicated post.
Whatever the causes, the RN needs to get a grip of the situation sharpish.