Brothers at Sea: Putting Food on South Africa’s Tables

Submitted by:  Tyler Pelser

My name is Tyler Pelser (22).  In the photo are crew members Javas, Andile, Siviwe, and Vuyo.

Vuyo is a 3^rd year watch keeper student.  He has almost completed his studies.

I have been working at sea since I finished school.  I’m 1 ½ years into my studies towards becoming a maritime engineer.

I have the utmost respect for my fellow crew members.

We work with many different South African cultures:  Sotho, Xhosa, English, Afrikaans and more, and we come from all walks of life.

There are 25 crew members, as well as the captain, mate, and engineer.  We work eight months a year at sea (roughly 288 days of the year), so being able to work in peace and harmony is crucial, and to keep us sane.  I have the utmost respect for my fellow crew members.

Our work is very dangerous, so we risk our lives doing what we love, to support our families.

In our line of work, we are known as chokkararras (squid fisherman).  This industry puts an incredible amount of food on the tables of South Africans.