Knife-wielding ‘pirates’ steal trawlerman’s catch

FISHERMEN have been warned about “pirates” stealing valuable catches, after two knife-wielding thieves threatened a trawlerman off the Devon coast.

Stuart Pengelly described how he lost around £300 worth of fish when two men in an inflatable vessel cut his nets as he attempted to haul in his catch. The 45-year-old, who fishes for plaice and Dover sole, had been collecting his nets off Slapton Sands, south Devon, just after 5am when he was threatened by the “pirates”.

He said the pair had already begun hauling up his nets and were using the knives to cut the fish out. As he approached they brandished their knives and warned him to stay back or they would attack.

“In that instance you don’t know whether they’re actually going to do anything [with the knives] or not,” he explained. As well as losing the valuable stock of fish, which had been intended for the local restaurant trade, Mr Pengelly’s £500 nets were also destroyed. He has warned local businesses not to buy fish from those without a licence, and urged members of the local fishing community to come together to stamp out the problem.

But Mr Pengelly also said the police should do more to respond to reports and catch the thieves before they reach the shore. He said in recent weeks he had noticed a number of suspicious people in the area who had been taking an interest in his equipment and habits.

Rick Smith of the Brixham Trawler Agents described the incident as “piracy on the high seas”. A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police described it as an isolated incident, but locals have reported other incidents.

A spokesman from the South Devon & Channel Shellfishermen group said: ‘’Whilst our fishermen are sadly used to their crab and lobsters being stolen from pots and other holding facilities, this kind of incident is extremely unusual and we are all deeply concerned.”