Noel Thompson, Freelance Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

The growing competition between legitimate and rogue fishermen at sea is being cited as a possible factor that contributed to the disappearance of four fishermen who went missing off the Pedro Bank, St Elizabeth, last Saturday.

Several fishermen say robbers strapped with handguns and high-powered weapons from Rocky Point in Clarendon, Old Harbour in St Catherine and Kingston have been making regular treks out in the deep and are robbing fishermen of their catch regularly.

They say this has forced them to venture out at sea even in bad weather conditions to secure their large catch ahead of gun-toting fishermen.

The four missing men were attempting to secure their livelihood when their boat capsized in rough waters.

Thriving business

Fish robbery at sea is a seemingly thriving business, as rogue fishers only incur the cost of fuel, which might cost approximately $60,000 or less per trip. However, the returns from their loot are very significant, as they sometimes rob hundreds of fish pots at a time.

"My boat and fishermen have been held up and robbed of all their catch nine times and that is the major thing that has forced me to give up on fishing," stated Howard Moxam, a retired fisherman from Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth.

Chairman of the Calabash Fishermen's Co-operative Society, Shawn Taylor, agreed that robbery at sea was at intolerable levels.

"They are terrorists," he said, adding that it would not be easy to catch these men because of how they operate.

It costs an average $47,000 to make four fish pots, in addition to $60,000 for gasolene, to make a single trip to the Pedro Bank.