Skipper 'shoots' fisherman

2006-08-18 07:21

Cheri-Ann James and Cindy Preller

Port Elizabeth - Mystery surrounds the death of a fisherman allegedly shot and killed by his skipper on a fishing trawler out at sea on the Eastern Cape coast.

The 36-year-old fisherman was shot in the head after 11:00 on Thursday and was declared dead at 12:20 by Netcare 911 ambulance paramedics who'd arrived at the vessel - the Rietgans - together with members of the NSRI.

The police have opened a murder docket.

It was rumoured on Thursday that the skipper and the dead man had argued, while another source said the skipper had been shooting at seals when the fisherman was hit by accident.

Police spokesperson Captain Verna Brink said the skipper made a statement to the police on Thursday afternoon in which he said another boat had moored next to the Rietgans and a parcel containing dagga was handed to the deceased.

The skipper said in his statement he is against dagga smuggling and "had tried to shoot the parcel".

"The skipper allegedly reloaded and fired a second shot.

"This shot hit the deceased - who was retrieving the parcel from the water - in the back of the head," said Brink.

According to Brink, extremely traumatised fishermen told police on Thursday that the skipper was a short-tempered man and that he regularly shot at crew members.

Accepted practice to have firearms on trawlers

Apparently the skipper feared for his life after the second shot and locked himself in a section of the boat where he radioed for help.

NSRI spokesperson Gavin Riddle said a call regarding the shooting incident was received when the trawler was in the vicinity of the Sundays River, about 35km from the harbour.

"Our Alpha 6 rescue craft reached the trawler in the vicinity of the Coega harbour when it was still about 26km from PE harbour," said Riddle.

Two police officers remained on board the trawler while the NSRI, accompanied by the Netcare official, returned to the harbour.

According to Riddle it is accepted practice to have firearms on trawlers as it was required when dangerous sharks ended up in the nets at times.

According to the NSRI in Hout Bay the Rietgans is registered in the name of Rietgans Visserye, but Die Burger established on Thursday that the owner is from Port Elizabeth.

The police could not confirm claims on Thursday that the shotgun was unlicensed.

Noel Koerat, a Jeffreys Bay fisherman, said it was general practice on trawlers to shoot seals and, sometimes, dolphins from the boat.

"This incident emphasises the fact that fishermen are involved in a dangerous working environment.

"That is what our recent strike was all about.

"We don't even have the most basic employees' rights," Koerat said.

The name of the deceased was not released as his next-of-kin had not yet been informed.

- Die Burger