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Fisherman rarely worked nights as 'prawns don't like the dark', trawler owner tells WRC

Summary

During a Workplace Relations Commission hearing, trawler owner Richard Brannigan denied that his vessel, the Nausicaa, had migrant fishermen working 20‑hour days at sea. He explained that the boat, the smallest in Howth harbour at 19.5 metres, could only stay at sea nine or ten days and could only perform a limited number of trawls per day. Brannigan said the crew's daily hours were a maximum of 12, with two hours' rest between net shots, and that the fishermen were paid for the hours they worked. He argued that the union's claims of underpayment and inaccurate working‑time records were unfounded, citing the vessel's limited range, fuel capacity and the fact that prawns were less productive at night. The hearing also addressed the admissibility of monitoring data and the union's evidence of alleged unpaid holiday pay for one crew member. The case was adjourned for further evidence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Fisherman rarely worked nights as 'prawns don't like the dark', trawler owner tells WRC. Procedural stage: trial

When:

• 2023-02-08 Publication

Why: Photo: Collins) A trawler owner who denies he had migrant fisherman working 20-hour days at sea has said it was barely worth setting nets at night because "prawns don't like the dark". CNI source report

Topics

Stage Trial

Read the original CNI report