A fishing boat captain from Annan, Dumfriesshire, has been sentenced to complete 300 hours of unpaid work following allegations that he treated his foreign crew members in a manner described as “slave-like.” Tom Nicholson, 38, was found to have subjected five migrant workers to demanding conditions aboard his scallop dredger, The Sea Lady, in violation of maritime health and safety regulations.

According to testimony at Hamilton Sheriff Court, Nicholson forced the crew to work around the clock, limited their access to food, and denied them adequate rest periods. In addition, he failed to provide proper training to the sailors. One crew member from Ghana reported struggling to sustain himself, resorting to eating octopus and fish caught in the ship’s nets. Another seaman who confronted Nicholson regarding the working conditions said he was told he “was a slave.”

Nicholson is affiliated with TN Trawlers, a family-run business based in Kirkcudbright. The court's ruling follows concerns over the treatment and welfare of migrant workers in the fishing industry, highlighting ongoing challenges in enforcing labor protections at sea.