A landmark court case in Scotland has delivered a significant victory for migrant fishermen who spent years seeking justice over allegations of exploitation aboard fishing vessels operated by TN Trawlers. The case concluded after skipper Tom Nicholson Jr admitted failing to provide adequate food, rest and training to a group of Ghanaian fishermen working on the scallop vessel Sea Lady in 2017.
The guilty plea came during proceedings at Hamilton Sheriff Court, bringing an abrupt end to testimony from several former crew members who had waited nearly a decade for their experiences to be heard. Among those who gave evidence was Ghanaian fisherman Joshua Amissah, who described harsh working conditions aboard the vessel and recalled being told that black crew members should be treated as slaves. He testified that the crew endured relentless work schedules, inadequate food supplies and a complete lack of training while operating in the English Channel.
According to evidence presented in court, conditions became so severe that crew members resorted to eating fish and octopus caught during fishing operations to survive. The men also created a secret sleeping rota in an attempt to get some rest during long periods at sea. Amissah said the crew felt powerless to challenge their treatment because they feared repercussions for themselves and their families.
Outside court, Amissah said the ordeal had caused lasting pain and hardship. He expressed hope that the case would raise awareness across the fishing industry and prevent similar treatment of workers in the future. Fellow fisherman Kow Mensah echoed those sentiments, while other former crew members were unable to testify after the skipper changed his plea to guilty.
The investigation originally began after crew member Augustus Mensah suffered a serious head injury during rough weather in December 2017. After falling and striking his head on the deck, he received limited medical treatment due to a lack of proper supplies on board. When the vessel later docked in Portsmouth for medical assistance, police became involved, ultimately leading to a wider investigation into the treatment of migrant workers.
Mensah, whose experience was highlighted in BBC documentaries examining labour exploitation in the fishing sector, said he had waited nine years to tell his story in court. He welcomed the outcome, saying justice had finally been achieved after years of uncertainty and frustration.
The case initially formed part of a human trafficking investigation known as Operation Feature. Crew members from Ghana and India were later recognised by the UK Home Office as victims of modern slavery. Although prosecutors dropped the trafficking case in 2022 due to insufficient evidence, a review process led to renewed legal action under maritime health and safety legislation.
Tom Nicholson Jr will return to court next month for sentencing. The proceedings also renewed scrutiny of his father, Thomas Nicholson, the owner of TN Trawlers. Earlier this week, Thomas Nicholson was fined after breaching a Trafficking and Exploitation Risk Order, becoming the first known person in Scotland to both receive and breach such an order. Authorities said he failed to provide required information when moving a vessel between countries, although his defence argued it was a genuine administrative mistake.
The case has sparked wider criticism of labour practices within the fishing industry and questions about public funding awarded to TN Trawlers while human trafficking investigations were ongoing. Campaigners argue the industry remains vulnerable to exploitation of migrant workers from countries including Ghana, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and India.
Industry and labour representatives have called for stronger protections, including guaranteed employment rights, minimum wage coverage and proper monitoring of working hours for foreign fishing crews. They argue such reforms are necessary to prevent exploitation and ensure fair treatment across a sector heavily dependent on migrant labour.
The convictions represent the latest chapter in a long-running series of investigations involving TN Trawlers. In 2024, investigations identified dozens of former workers linked to the company who were later recognised by the Home Office as victims of modern slavery. Separate compensation awards were also granted to a group of Ghanaian fishermen rescued from another TN Trawlers vessel in 2020, further highlighting concerns about working conditions within parts of the UK fishing industry.
