The skipper of a Scottish fishing vessel has been found guilty at Peterhead Sheriff’s Court of assault and racially-aggravated harassment of five non-EEA crew members over a period of six years.
Gordon Hadden admitted racial harassment Jasen Gicale, Jason Gorgonia Gulane, Jay Suycano, Rolan Gulane Barte and Noly Frejoles on board fishing vessel Serenity between August 2013 and August 2019, according to reports.
He also admitted assaulting crewman Jasen Gicale, striking him and placing him in a headlock in what is described as a racially aggravated assault.
Gordon Hadden was fined £2000 for the charges of harassment and a further £1000 for the assault charge, and according to Human Rights at Sea, a three further charges of assault are understood to have been proffered, but were not taken further.
The charity is now seeking clarity as to why alleged more serious assault charges were apparently dropped, and has submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Scottish authorities requesting access to public court records.
Human Rights at Sea is also in contact with both the Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA) and the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) to discuss the case to understand what is being done internally in the respective organisations to address the issue of human rights abuses in the sector, and address the behaviour of the prosecuted skipper.
Both organisations are engaged with the charity and The Fishermen’s Mission in the ongoing UK Fisheries Human Rights and Social Welfare Baseline Assessment Project 2020.
