According to the Peterhead Sheriff’s Court, a Scottish skipper has been found guilty for assaulting and racially-aggravating harassment upon five non-European crewmemebes, during a six-year period.
Specifically, the 59-year-old Scottish skipper admitted to racially harassing the above-mentioned personnel on various occasions among August 2013 and August 2019.
Earlier this month, Peterhead Sheriff Court decided to fine the fishery’s captain with £2.000 for the harassment charges and a further £1.000 for the assault.
In light of the situation, Human Rights at Sea is in contact with both the Scottish White Fish Producers Association and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation to discuss the case, to understand what is being done internally in the respective organizations to address the issue of human rights abuses in the sector, and address the behavior of the prosecuted skipper.
Overall, several months ago, Sophia Bullard Crew Health Programme Director at UK P&I Club, provided her comments on how to address bullying and harassment on board ships. While the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) recognised the negative effect that bullying and harassment can have on seafarer health and wellbeing, and voted to bring these serious issues under Regulation 4.3, which is the health and safety protection and accident protection code.
