The mood in the fishing community in Fraserburgh was sombre yesterday as the death of a Filipino trawlerman brought to four the number of crewman lost from the northeast town in less than two weeks.

The Times Online 15/08/2008

Reynaldo Lobo Benitez, 29, was missing feared dead after falling overboard from the fishing boat New Dawn on Wednesday night.

“You can imagine the mood of the town, the area, and indeed the fishing fraternity,” Murray Campbell, senior superintendent at the Fraserburgh branch of Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen, said. “When we lose a man, no matter where they are from - the northeast or not - the loss is felt keenly.”

It is estimated that about 700 Filipinos are working in the Scottish fishing industry, and concerns are growing for their safety.

Mr Benitez's death came only 12 days after Ramhel Calepayan, 38, and Benjamin Potot, 33, both Filipinos, died along with Rimants Venckus, 50, from Latvia, in a fire aboard the prawn trawler Vision II in Fraserburgh harbour.

The latest tragedy has prompted fishing union leaders to issue a fresh demand for talks with Alex Salmond, the First Minister, over providing safety training for Filipino trawlermen. Last week the International Trade Federation (ITF) wrote to Mr Salmond to raise concern over poor working conditions and pay among the workers who, 6,000 miles from home, spend several months at a time on Scottish fishing contracts.

Neil Keith, a Scottish inspector with the ITF, said: “We're urging the government to push forward with the industry to make sure that Filipino crewmen have proper safety awareness. There are guys coming here who have not even been on a fishing boat.”

Mr Keith said that he did not hold the men responsible for the problem, but instead blamed the unscrupulous recruitment agencies that offered them employment. An investigation conducted by the ITF established that after Filipinos have paid a job finding fee of up to £1,500 for a contract lasting a few months some are receiving as little as £1.24 per hour.

“Agencies in Manila are putting across men who are seamen but not fishermen, so they are not up to the job,” Mr Keith said. “They hide away on their boat because they have paid so much for their transit visa that they have to live on board the vessel. When you go down to the harbour you see them sitting around on the deck or watching telly.”

To prevent further tragedies Mr Keith wants ministers to put in a place a training programme in Scotland that all Filipino recruits would be required to complete before taking up their jobs.He said: “We are not against them coming here - if the Filipinos disappeared there would be no fishing industry.”

Mr Benitez fell overboard from the New Dawn, which has been featured on the BBC's Trawlermen documentary series, at 11pm on Wednesday. He had been shooting the boat's nets when he fell in while holding the equipment. Charlie Bruce, 23, the boat's skipper, dived in to the water but was unable to save him.

A memorial service for the four dead fishermen is to be held in Fraserburgh on September 13.

“It has been a sad time,” Mr Campbell said. “We are all completely stunned, but the service will provide a sense of closure while inquiries continue into the deaths.”

The incidents are being investigated by the the Marine Accident Investigation Branch.

Mr Salmond has said that he is considering the ITF's request for talks. It is thought that he intends to address the matter when he returns from his summer holiday next week.

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