Probing Portland | Unattached youths turn to fishing to avoid life of crime

Syranno Baines, Gleaner Writer 

With formal employment hard to come by in Portland, many unattached youths have turned to fishing to earn a living and, according to veteran fisherman 'Captain Sea', this has become a viable alternative to crime.

"Not much work is available so a lot of the youths a call themselves loader-man nowadays because them help load the boat with the ice, the ice box, the compressor, the fish gun, the gas, all the gear required for sea," said Captain, who has been going to the sea for more than 30 years.

He did not want to disclose his real name.

"Them also help with a lot of other things on the boat. Some man will make from $1,500 upwards a day, depends on the amount a catch".

“Sometimes we no catch anything at all because the compressor break down or so but them understand that them have a work and tomorrow might see them carry home all a $4,000 or $5,000 so, there's no need to go bad or take a next man own cause income sure, it only fluctuates," added Captain.

He noted that the nature of the job sees many of the young men having to work long, unusual hours which further lead them away from criminal activity.

"Them have to come here by 12 or 1 a.m. to load the boat to go sea by 2 a.m and them work with the system so, there's really not a lot of time to be up a roam street and to contribute to crime. Fishing a make them eat food.”

One such loader-man, a 26-year-old who gave his name as 'Barracuda', agreed with Captain.

"A no the greatest job and a lot a people look down pon it but it help. It buy food, pay bills and it keep me from pree negative. A nuff likkle youth bout ya, all big man it make can put pot pon fire and probably even keep out a jail or dead house," said Bararacuda.

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