fishers’ rights

Abuse at sea: report exposes labour exploitation in MSC-certified fisheries

Mark_D — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 09:00:06 +0000

Abuse at sea: report exposes labour exploitation in MSC-certified fisheries

ITF research reveals serious abuses of fishers’ labour rights on vessels operating in Marine Stewardship Council-certified fisheries, casting doubt on ‘responsible sourcing’ claims.

Labour abuses suffered by fishers working on vessels in fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) raise serious concerns about the credibility of the ‘responsible sourcing’ label, a new report from the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) reveals.

The report, Slipping Through the Net: Labour Abuses in MSC-Certified Fisheries, identifies 80 cases of labour abuse across 72 vessels linked to MSC-certified seafood between 2019 and 2025. These included 10 cases involving forced labour, human trafficking, and forced criminalisation, alongside a wide range of other abuses.

The findings reinforce long-standing concerns that MSC’s labour policies risk “fairwashing” seafood supply chains, creating an illusion of ethical production without the mechanisms needed to identify, prevent or remedy abuses suffered by fishers.

“Our research shows that serious labour abuses are occurring within fisheries that are able to sell their products under the MSC label – and that should concern anyone who believes MSC certification guarantees ‘responsible sourcing’,” said ITF Fisheries Section Coordinator, Chris Williams.

Due a general pattern of under-reporting of abuses on fishing vessels, the significant lack of vessel data available through the MSC and the report’s reliance on ITF data, the findings likely underestimate the scale of harm occurring within MSC supply chains.

The report finds that the MSC’s own requirements were often inconsistently adhered to and that limitations on publicly available data restrict transparency.

MSC states that it does not certify against labour standards, and that its ‘blue tick’ label makes no assurances or social claims – but at the same time, it identifies itself as a “collaborator” and “ally” in eliminating forced and child labour, and it has suggested its certification can reduce exposure to forced labour risks.

The label relies on self-declarations that participating ‘entities’ have not been convicted of forced labour – however, in practice, forced labour convictions are rare in global fisheries due to the high evidentiary threshold, and the time, financial and evidentiary burdens on fishers.

“It’s clear that there are systemic weaknesses in MSC’s data accessibility and transparency, and it must urgently improve this,” said Williams.

“But if companies are serious about ensuring that their products aren’t tainted by labour rights abuses, voluntary ecolabels offer no real guarantees – companies need binding agreements with trade unions.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor

The full report is available for download here.

About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve workers’ lives, connecting more than 730 affiliated trade unions from over 150 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for workers globally. We are the voice for more than 16.5 million transport workers across the world.

Media contact: Mark Dearn +44 7738 832 413 media@itf.org.uk

Mark_D 16 Apr 2026

fishers’ rights

accountability

ITF Dakar Declaration on Combating IUU Fishing in West Africa

Mark_D — Fri, 13 Feb 2026 13:55:32 +0000

ITF Dakar Declaration on Combating IUU Fishing in West Africa

In West Africa, over 200 million people rely on fish as their primary source of protein. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation’s (UN FAO) State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2024 report, 35% of global fish stocks are now overexploited — more than triple the level recorded in 1974. Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, marine pollution and climate change now pose severe threats to livelihoods, food security and national stability across the region.

IUU fishing alone represents up to 40% of all regional catches, costing West African economies more than USD2.3 billion annually. Fisheries are no longer solely an ecological concern — they are a matter of security, governance, and workers’ rights.

IUU fishing refers to activities that violate national or international laws, avoid reporting obligations, or occur in areas or for species where governance structures are inadequate. Its impacts on African states are profound — draining public revenues from taxes, licences and landing fees, and undermining the livelihoods of local artisanal fishing communities.

Key international tools exist — including the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (C188), and the Cape Town Agreement (CTA). The CTA remains unratified across many West Africa Fishers Organising Project (WAFOP) countries, and full and proper implementation of PSMA and C188 is urgently needed.

Declaration

We, the undersigned unions and civil society organisations, declare our shared commitment to confront IUU fishing and defend the rights and welfare of all fishers across West Africa. Together, we commit to:

Establishing a Regional IUU Taskforce/Working Group to enhance knowledge-sharing, intelligence exchange, and coordinated action across borders.
Campaigning and lobbying for the full and proper implementation of C188 and the PSMA, ensuring decent work, safe vessels, and IUU and labour-focused port state controls throughout the region.
Campaigning nationally for the CTA ratification across WAFOP countries.
Building a worker‑ and fisheries‑observer‑led advisory group to lead the campaign and ensure worker voices are at its centre.
Learning from one another, documenting national successes and challenges in addressing IUU fishing and using that knowledge to overcome shared barriers.
Developing a joint regional Action Plan for 2026, led by the Working Group.

Planned Activities – ITF, ITF affiliates, and civil society partners

On combating IUU fishing

Awareness‑raising programmes in artisanal fishing communities (building on successful Ghana initiatives).
Collective advocacy for greater transparency, aligned with the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency.
Regular information‑sharing and joint analysis across unions, civil society organisations (CSOs), and observers.
Monthly virtual coordination meetings led by a regional coordinator.
Training on recognising and reporting IUU practices at the artisanal level.
Knowledge exchanges with partners and relevant stakeholders (e.g., satellite tools, vessel tracking and monitoring technologies).
Expanding participatory surveillance programmes in coastal communities.
Integrating labour rights data with IUU risk analysis using tools such as the Trygg Mat Tracking (TMT) database.
Building fishers’ understanding of the criminalisation risks they face when employers order them to engage in illegal fishing.
Advocacy for the national revision of fishing codes to ensure transparency, accountability and gender inclusivity.

For ITF-affiliated trade unions

Strengthening leadership capacity and organisational resilience.
Reinforcing cross‑border collaboration among trade unions to confront IUU fishing collectively.
Promotion of women in fish processing and distribution, including ensuring that supply chains are free from IUU-sourced fish.

Through solidarity, shared knowledge, and coordinated regional action, we reaffirm our commitment to dismantling the structures that enable IUU fishing and to securing dignity, safety and decent work for all fishers across West Africa. Together, we stand united in the fight for justice and sustainable fisheries for future generations.

Dakar declaration signatories:

International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)

Maritime Dockworkers Union of Ghana (MDU)

National Union of Teamsters and General Workers (NUTEG)

Syndicat National de la Marine Marchande (SNTMM)

Syndicat Nationale de Gens de Mer (SNGMS)

Union Democratique des Travaileurs de Senegal (UDTS)

Syndicat de Marin Pecheurs de Cote d’Ivoire (SYMAPECHI)

Greenpeace Africa

Mark_D 13 Feb 2026

Migrant Fishers to be Protected During Recruitment Under Landmark ILO Guidelines

Mark_D — Tue, 18 Nov 2025 09:28:45 +0000

Migrant Fishers to be Protected During Recruitment Under Landmark ILO Guidelines

ITF and ETF demand action from governments and industry to ensure “crucial step forward” for fishers

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) welcome the adoption of the new ‘Guidelines for Fair Labour Market Services for Migrant Fishers’ by the International Labour Organization (ILO) in Geneva last week, calling the move a “crucial step forward” for the protection of migrant fishers worldwide,

The new Guidelines, jointly developed by representatives of governments, fishing vessel owners and fishers’ organisations, set minimum global standards for how migrant fishers should be recruited, employed and protected at sea. They draw extensively on previous work carried out by the European Fisheries Social Partners.

“For too long, migrant fishers have been invisible in the global seafood industry – facing abuse and exploitation in their vital job of putting seafood on our plates. These are key workers that have been left without crucial rights,” said Johnny Hansen, Chair of the ITF Fisheries Section.

“This can be a crucial step forward for the protection of migrant fishers – but only if governments and employers act now, as they must.”

The Guidelines make clear that:

Migrant fisher recruitment must be free, fair and transparent
Contracts must be written and made available in languages migrant fishers understand
Migrant fishers must have decent working and living conditions
Migrant fishers must have access to justice

Once approved, the ITF and ETF are urging flag, port and labour-providing states to immediately begin implementing the Guidelines through national law and practice. This must include licensing and monitoring recruitment agencies, strengthening inspection systems, collecting data and ensuring access to grievance and redress mechanisms for fishers.

The ITF and ETF congratulate the UK for supporting the adoption of the Guidelines and noted the UK Government’s plan to establish a Fair Work Agency for the fisheries sector in April 2026.

“The UK’s planned Fair Work Agency can definitely be a game-changer on these issues, but only if it enforces the standards set out in the new Guidelines and has a remit in the fishing sector,” said Chris Williams, ITF Fisheries Section Coordinator. “That means fair recruitment, fair contracts, and genuine accountability for a sector reliant on migrant workers.”

The ITF and ETF are also calling on retailers, brands and seafood buyers to embed the Guidelines in their responsible sourcing frameworks.

“If your business profits from fish caught by migrant workers, you have an obligation to ensure those workers are recruited and treated fairly,” said Juan Manuel Trujillo, ETF Fisheries Section Chair. “The ITF and ETF will call out any company claiming to sell sustainable seafood if its supply chain relies on exploitation.”

The ITF and ETF stress that implementation must not remain voluntary or symbolic. Governments, vessel owners, and multinational buyers must all be held accountable for ensuring that migrant fishers are treated with dignity and fairness.

“These Guidelines are more than words on paper: they are a promise to the people who feed the world. It’s time for governments and employers to step up to make that promise real,” said Williams.

ENDS

If you are a fisher in need of support, contact the ITF via our Facebook Fishers Support page or email: fishsupport@itf.org.uk

Notes to Editor

Find the ILO Guidelines here.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) estimates that there are 33.6 million people working in fisheries worldwide.
While precise numbers are unknown, it is widely believed that there are significant numbers of migrant fishers working across global fleets, with those numbers varying across specific fisheries, e.g., small-scale domestic fisheries in coastal waters, where numbers are thought to be lower, as opposed to distant water fleets, where numbers are believed to be far higher.
In 2021, the ILO estimated that that there are at least 128,000 victims of forced labour in the commercial fishing industry worldwide. Many of these are likely to be migrant fishers.

About the ITF:  The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve workers’ lives, connecting more than 730 affiliated trade unions from over 150 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for workers globally. We are the voice for more than 16.5 million transport workers across the world.

Media contact: Mark Dearn +44 7738 832 413 media@itf.org.uk

Mark_D 18 Nov 2025

Abandoned Russian and Ukrainian fishers finally receive wages after three-year ordeal

Rosalyn Smith — Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:25:51 +0000

Abandoned Russian and Ukrainian fishers finally receive wages after three-year ordeal

After being abandoned and left without pay, 37 Russian and Ukrainian fishers have finally received the wages they earned, three years after their nightmare began.

The crew of the Hunter, a Russian fish factory vessel abandoned in Las Palmas were unpaid for up to seven months, with a total wage debt of $252,822 (232.951 euros). Trapped aboard the ship, they faced a constant cloud of uncertainty – until they decided to contact the ITF International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

“This case isn’t just about unpaid wages, it’s about dignity, justice, and the human cost of abandonment,” said Gonzalo Galan, the ITF Inspector in the Canary Islands who worked on the case.

In March 2022, with the shipowner unresponsive, ITF secured legal representation for the crew, who were then repatriated: the Hunter was arrested, declared officially abandoned, and eventually sold at auction to help recover the wages owed.

The ITF Seafarers’ Trust provided emergency financial assistance to help the fishers return home, and also covered urgent medical costs for a crew member injured while working aboard the vessel.

After a long and complex legal procedure, in December 2024 the court distributed the money recovered from the vessel’s auction to all the creditors.

Even most of the recovered funds have been already delivered to most of the crewmembers, ITF is now working with ISWAN to ensure that the remaining funds are sent to the affected fishers, despite ongoing obstacles related to financial sanctions against Russian banks and citizens.

“This case is a stark reminder of how vulnerable fishers remain to exploitation,” said Galan. “These 37 men were abandoned, unpaid, and left stranded by the same company that profited from their labour. Thanks to their resilience – and a relentless legal fight – they are finally receiving what they earned. But no fisher should ever have to go through this.”

Galan added: “This victory sends a clear message: abandon your crew, and the ITF will come for you. Fishers are not disposable. They are essential, their jobs are exceedingly dangerous, and they deserve respect and justice.”

The ITF continues to urge governments, flag states, and the fishing industry to take stronger, enforceable action to prevent abandonment, protect workers’ rights, and hold rogue shipowners accountable.

Rosalyn Smith 18 Jun 2025

New report reveals exploitation and abuse of workers in squid fisheries

Rosalyn Smith — Thu, 20 Feb 2025 09:17:34 +0000

New report reveals exploitation and abuse of workers in squid fisheries

Distant water fishing fleets registered with the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO) are exploiting and abusing fishers, a new report from the ITF reveals.

While the SPRFMO, which oversees the management of key fisheries such as jack mackerel and jumbo squid, has made significant progress in conservation and stock management, urgent gaps remain in terms of social and labour protections.

Human trafficking, forced labour and other rights violations are taking place onboard fishing vessels in South America, the ITF report finds.

Between 2013 and 2023, 66 crew members from 59 vessels registered with the SPRFMO, were received deceased at regional ports or went missing after falling into the sea. This equates to roughly one death every two months. The deaths were often unexplained: of the 55, 17 were from unknown causes.

Abuses can continue for years on end, due to the long periods that fishing vessels remain at sea. One vessel where a crew member had died carried on fishing for seven months while the body of the fisher remained onboard.

Using case studies, the ITF report highlights the urgent need for coordinated inspections among SPRFMO member states to enforce labour protections. Standardised inspections would help ensure all vessels meet basic working and safety conditions, reducing the risk of exploitation.

“The SPRFMO must adopt minimum social standards to protect workers and ensure fair and sustainable fishing practices,” said Chris Williams, ITF Fisheries Section Coordinator.

“The SPRFMO has an opportunity to develop conservation and management measures that protect workers, ensure their rights are respected and that urgent medical support is provided when needed,” added Williams.

SPRFMO must urgently implement risk-based assessments that evaluate a vessel or company’s compliance history. By prioritising inspections and enforcement efforts based on past violations, authorities can target high-risk fleets and deter criminal behaviour.

As the SPRFMO continues to refine its conservation and strategies, adopting a minimum social standard will reinforce its commitment to ethical and sustainable fishing.

“By strengthening inspections, cooperation, and risk assessments, the SPRFMO working closely with member states, can protect both marine resources and the workers bringing seafood to our plates.

“But without international collaboration, unscrupulous companies will continue to exploit regulatory loopholes and gaps with serious consequences for workers, as this report demonstrates" said Williams.

Read the report.

Rosalyn Smith 20 Feb 2025

Marine Stewardship Council must confront forced labour in certified fisheries

Rosalyn Smith — Tue, 11 Feb 2025 08:28:31 +0000

Marine Stewardship Council must confront forced labour in certified fisheries

The MSC label’s ‘blue tick’ does not represent an ethical consumer choice when fishers suffer severe labour rights abuses, open letter reveals.

Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification is enabling companies to conceal labour abuses in their supply chains, says the Seafood Working Group, a coalition of trade union, human rights, and environmental organisations. In an open letter, published today, the Seafood Working Group urges the MSC to admit to and address serious failings in its certification process.

The MSC label is often marketed as the ”gold standard” for sustainable seafood and is used by many companies to improve market access for their seafood products – and by many consumers as a perceived guarantee of ethical production standards. According to the MSC, it 'condemns forced labour’ and, although billed as an environmental standard, it has ‘taken steps to keeping forced labour out of the MSC certified supply chain'.

However, the reality is that UK supermarkets—and the MSC itself—could be profiting from modern slavery while marketing their products under the banner of sustainability.

“Consumers across the world are being fooled into buying seafood with a ‘blue tick’ because they believe that it’s an ethical choice – but there’s nothing ethical about ‘sustainable’ seafood caught off the back of forced labour,” said Chris Williams, Fisheries Section Coordinator for the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).

Recent investigations into MSC-certified fisheries reveal appalling labour rights abuses are taking place while companies continue to receive a ‘blue tick’ for ethical standards. Forced labour and workplace accidents are occurring and not being investigated.

Abuses in tuna fisheries are a particular concern. Although the MSC, which certifies nearly 60% of the world’s tuna, insists it is protecting workers across the supply chain, new data show that most tuna vessel owners within the programme are participating anonymously. Vessel conditions are untraceable for 74% of the tuna catches reported by certifiers, undermining the claim of keeping forced labour out.

The Seafood Working Group says the MSC’s reliance on unverified self-reports and fishery-level audits have allowed companies to mask severe labour abuses. The organisation’s objective is to expand the number of certified fisheries globally and increase the revenue from using the MSC label.

“It’s truly shocking that such a well-known label, touted as the world’s gold standard for seafood, actually ignores labour abuses in its certified fisheries. It shows a blatant disregard for consumers who won’t have any idea of this,” said Williams.

“To fix this mess, the MSC needs to come clean and admit that its label doesn’t offer any guarantee whatsoever of rights protection. Better still, it can be part of the solution by actively promoting and endorsing legally binding, trade union Collective Bargaining Agreements.”

According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) at least 128,000 fishers are subjected to forced labour, and over 100,000 lose their lives annually due to hazardous working conditions.

Key Demands from the Seafood Working Group:

Transparency: Publicly acknowledge that MSC certification does not guarantee labour rights protections and clarify that the label should not be interpreted as a safeguard against forced labour.
Due Diligence: Warn companies that relying solely on MSC certification is insufficient for ensuring ethical labour practices, urging the integration of comprehensive Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) processes that include trade unions and workers.
Binding Protections: Endorse legally binding agreements, such as Collective Bargaining Agreements and Enforceable Brand Agreements with independent, democratic trade unions, to ensure fishers receive fair wages, safe working conditions and effective remedies for violations.

Notes

The Seafood Working Group (SWG) is a global coalition of human rights, labour and environmental organisations that work together to develop and advocate for effective government policies and industry actions to end the related problems of labour exploitation, illegal fishing and overfishing in the international seafood trade. Founded in 2014 together with the support of Humanity United, the SWG is convened by Global Labor Justice - International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF) and is led by an Advisory Body of leading organizations in these fields.

Rosalyn Smith 11 Feb 2025

World Fisheries Day 2024: Protect fishers from human trafficking

Rosalyn Smith — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 14:13:57 +0000

World Fisheries Day 2024: Protect fishers from human trafficking

The ITF will join representatives from civil society, academia and the UN at a Geneva event at the Palais des Nations.

Trade unions, the International Labour Organization (ILO), civil society advocates, policymakers, and labour rights experts will come together for World Fisheries Day to discuss and address critical needs within the fishing industry – with a focus on safeguarding fishers against human trafficking and improving working conditions and fishers’ wellbeing worldwide.

World Fisheries Day is celebrated annually on November 21 to raise awareness of the vital role of fisheries and aquaculture in supporting global food security, providing employment, and contributing to economic development.

Traditionally hosted by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UN FAO) and Stella Maris in Rome, Italy, this year’s observance has been revitalised by the cooperation between Stella Maris, the Santa Marta Group and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Fisheries Section. Together, they aim to spotlight urgent issues within the fishing industry and drive forward solutions for protecting fishers’ rights and welfare.

ITF Fisheries Section Coordinator, Chris Williams, said: “On World Fisheries Day 2024, we need to thank our trade union fishing affiliates and the 150,000 fishers that they represent in their work keeping seafood on our plates.

“But while these fishers are protected by collective bargaining, many of the 38 million people working in fishing are not. Fishing is a sector marked by high informality, self-employment and rampant exploitation particularly of migrant workers, but decent work must be an absolute priority for the sector.”

The event’s discussions will cover issues including the need for formal labour protections in fishing, the ratification of the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188), and the proper enforcement needed to combat the risks of forced labour and human trafficking – all fundamental components of a concerted drive towards establishing fair and decent working conditions in what is widely recognised as among the most dangerous industries in the world.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday 21 November 2024
Time: 1200 - 1400 CET
Location: Palais des Nations, Geneva, Room XXV & Online

Key Speakers:

Opening: H.E. Michel Veuthey, Ambassador for Trafficking in Persons, Sovereign Order of Malta
Moderator: Mr Kevin Hyland OBE, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner
Panelists:
Dr Jessica Sparks, Assistant Professor, Tufts University
Mr Chris Williams, Fisheries Section Coordinator, ITF
Fr Bruno Ciceri, Chaplain, Stella Maris
Fr Márcio Toniazzo, Executive Director, Scalabrini International Migration Network (SIMN)

Rosalyn Smith 20 Nov 2024

Fight ‘Flags of Non-Compliance’ to secure fishers’ labour rights

Mark_D — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 09:44:00 +0000

Fight ‘Flags of Non-Compliance’ to secure fishers’ labour rights

Eliminating the scourge of ‘Flags of Non-Compliance’ (FONC) is now at the heart of the ITF Fisheries Section’s work.

A major industrial campaign to confront what the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) calls ‘Flags of Non-Compliance’ (FONC) is now set to start – after ITF affiliates from around the world adopted a motion for it at the ITF Congress in Marrakech today.

In what is widely recognised as one of the world’s most dangerous and exploitative industries, fishers all around the world face daily risks to their lives, exploitation and wide-ranging, severe labour rights abuses – all to ensure seafood arrives every day on people’s plates, and all while substantial profits go to the companies at the top of the industry’s opaque, global supply chains.

“This sector is where labour is most exploited – low pay and dangerous, hazardous conditions are common,” said Section Chair for Africa, Barthelemy Kouassi, from Côte d'Ivoire, in opening comments.

“Businesses want profits above any other consideration – and this means our working conditions suffer.

“Fishers, wherever they are, have the right to freely assemble and to have collective agreements - they have the right to decent pay and working conditions. Fishers have the right to an equitable share of the profits reaped by multinationals.”

Similar to the improved pay and standards in the merchant marine that have come about due to the Flags of Convenience (FOC) campaign, the FONC campaign will now seek to do the same: it is a core demand of the Fisheries Section that fishers receive equal treatment to their seafarer colleagues, including receiving, at a minimum, the highest of either the ILO’s minimum basic wage for an able seaman or the minimum wage of the relevant flag state.

“The ITF Fisheries Section is determined to realise its vision of a world where fishers everywhere have the power to win better wages and working conditions,” said ITF Fisheries Section chair, Johnny Hansen.

“We know that proper Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs) that incorporate International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention 188 on Work in Fishing are vital to empowering fishers to win improved and enforceable working conditions. And we will now set about securing and monitoring CBAs on vessels flying ‘Flags of Non-Compliance’.”

The Fisheries Conference also passed Motion 42, calling for a “decent, safe and healthy working environment in fisheries”. The Motion champions the FONC campaign, the ITF’s supply chain accountability work and the importance of ‘Human Rights Due Diligence’ (HRDD) in the sector and calls for national implementation of ILO Convention 188 on Work in Fishing.

Fisheries Section Second Vice Chair, Angel Juan Navarro, from Sindicato de Obreros Marítimos Unidos (SOMU), tabled Motion 42 and called for its adoption at the Conference.

“The Global South has faced devastation at the hands of fishing fleets from rich countries,” he said.

“There is no doubt that the scarcity of fishing resources caused largely by climate change, IUU [Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated] fishing and the massive increase in fishing licenses issued to Asian and European vessels, have caused job losses, increased poverty and migration to Europe and America.”

With its global remit of work, spanning major fishing fleets on the high seas around the world, and focus areas including union building in Southeast Asia, organising migrant fishers facing forced labour in Asia, Latin America, Africa, the UK, Europe and the USA, tackling IUU fishing, and stopping vessels fishing illegally off West Africa, the Section is braced to organise and coordinate work that will build better working conditions for fishers everywhere.

“Whether it’s organising workers into unions, advocating for regulatory change in international forums or eliminating Flags of Non-Compliance, we’re ready to organise and take action together to deliver a better future for fishers,” Hansen said.

Delegates at the conference also elected Kenji Takahashi, from the Japanese Seamen’s Union (JSU), as 1st Vice Chair.

Notes

The ITF defines a flag as a FONC where any of these instances are met:

a. The flag state does not prevent IUU and labour abuses and does not have proper measures for safety and welfare of fishers. In this case, the flag will be considered as a FONC regardless of where the beneficial ownership of that vessel is located;

b. The flag state denies or fails to protect fundamental labour and human rights of fishers;

c. The flag state fails to prevent IUU fishing, and thereby exposes fishers, especially migrant fishers, to forced labour, human trafficking, and slavery;

d. The beneficial ownership of a vessel is found to be in a different country to the flag that the vessel is flying;

e. The flag state fails to implement and enforce proper measures to secure safety and welfare of fishers on board;

f. The wages on board a fishing vessel are below either the ILO minimum basic wage for an AB or the minimum wage of the flag state.

Mark_D 17 Oct 2024

Marine Stewardship Council certification fails to protect fishers from forced labour

Mark_D — Tue, 03 Sep 2024 09:55:00 +0000

Marine Stewardship Council certification fails to protect fishers from forced labour

In-depth investigation and ITF cases reveal that the MSC fails to ensure safe working conditions for fishers on certified vessels – despite claims of being free from forced labour.

The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) label is failing to ensure fair and safe working conditions for fishers on certified vessels, research backed up by International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) Inspectorate cases reveals.

In-depth research published today – Tuesday – undertaken by Dr Katrina Nakamura, of the Sustainability Incubator, demonstrates that a number of MSC-certified tuna fishing vessels – some of which are also under investigation by the ITF’s inspectorate – are reported to have been implicated in a range of labour rights abuses.

As such, the MSC certification, often perceived as a guarantee of ethical labour standards, is failing to effectively protect fishers.

ITF Fisheries Expert, Chris Williams, said: “If the MSC is to retain any credibility as a label that consumers can trust, it must take immediate and decisive action to address the glaring gaps on human and labour rights in its certification process – including naming the employers of vessels involved in labour abuse cases.

“As it stands, many people all around the USA, Europe and Japan are buying MSC-labelled tuna that they believe is ethically sourced and produced. Little do they know that forced labour is also on the menu.”

The analysis of the current status of 3,327 listed tuna vessels participating in the MSC program reveals that several vessels, including Win Far 636, Zhong Da 2 and Hangton 115, are implicated in severe labour abuses, ranging from forced labour to untreated workplace injuries.

Key research findings include:

Win Far 636 (Taiwan): Under investigation for the death of an observer who reported harassment and feared for his life.
Zhong Da 2 and Hangton 115 (Fiji): Greenpeace and the Indonesia Migrant Workers Union identified forced labour onboard.
Montecelo (El Salvador) and Dolores 873 (Philippines): Cited for failing to pay workers’ wages and untreated workplace injuries leading to disability.
USA vessels: Charlotte M, Svetlana M, Natalia Victoria, Dayna S and Viki K reported for unpaid workers’ wages and human trafficking by the ITF.

The ITF calls on the MSC to urgently reform its certification process and refrain from making claims about forced labour unless it can demonstrate stringent labour standards and transparent oversight mechanisms to ensure adherence. These must include:

Mandatory and regular audits of working conditions on certified vessels.
Transparent and public reporting mechanisms for labour abuses.
Swift action against employers and producers involved in exploitation and abuse of workers, including the suspension or revocation of certifications pending resolution of allegations.

The MSC must collaborate with trade unions, human and labour rights organisations and advocacy groups to develop a holistic approach to sustainable fishing that integrates human rights considerations in a way that is transparent, verifiable, and meaningful for workers.

Increased public awareness and media scrutiny of the numerous voluntary initiatives in the seafood sector have revealed that many have been ineffective in protecting workers’ rights and addressing their welfare.

END

Notes

According to its own data available here, ‘MSC engaged catch’ in 2023 exceeded 15 million tonnes, spanning 674 MSC program fisheries in 66 countries. The USA, Europe and Japan are key markets for MSC tuna.
The full analysis by Dr Katrina Nakamura is available here: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-024-00074-6
For more information on the Sustainability Incubator, visit here.
For more information on the ITF Inspectorate, visit here.
Examples of failed voluntary initiatives in the seafood sector include the ‘Fairness, Integrity, Safety and Health (FISH) Standard for Crew’. See here for an analysis of its failings and recommendations for change.

Mark_D 03 Sep 2024

Don’t buy voluntary ‘standards’ spin if you want to end fisher exploitation, UK supermarkets told

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 08:07:37 +0000

Don’t buy voluntary ‘standards’ spin if you want to end fisher exploitation, UK supermarkets told

UK supermarkets are being advised to steer clear of voluntary standards, tools and certifications when it comes to clearing their seafood supply chains of labour exploitation and modern slavery.

ITF fishers’ rights expert Chris Williams told seafood retail and distribution leaders gathered in Manchester today that while increasingly popular, voluntary mechanisms could not be relied upon when conducting human rights due diligence and modern slavery checks.

“The labour and human rights abuses exposed in the fisheries sector in recent years quite rightly led to calls for action, but the proliferation of voluntary tools built on unenforceable labour standards has brought us no closer to ridding the industry of systemic exploitation. They may have made things worse,” he said.

“Each one of these tools claims to give retailers and their customers at home reliable assurances that their dinner was caught free from forced labour and labour exploitation. The reality is that without workers’ voices, missing as they are from these tools’ development and in their implementation frameworks, then there is little prospect voluntary certifications are worth the paper they’re written on.”

Speaking to the Seafood Ethics Action Alliance’s annual general meeting, the expert urged Alliance members to reject voluntary, meaningless certifications, such as the FISH Standard, which an independent watchdog assessed as likely to “fail to achieve its stated objective” when the seafood processing industry launched the standard two years ago.

SEA Alliance members include the eight largest UK supermarkets and major seafood businesses and brands, together accounting for over 90% of UK grocery retail sales.

“Shoppers should be suspicious of any standard developed without a meaningful voice for workers, which are so often lacking in adequate auditing and enforcement mechanisms. A cynic would say that some of these are set up to be ineffective,” said Williams.“Consumers want their food to be free of exploitation, abuse and mistreatment of crew. They don’t want to see ‘fairwashing’ on human rights and labour standards."

"That's why they need certifications to be meaningful," said Chris Williams. "If a label says a product is free of those things, then a retailer has a responsibility to ensure that ‘it does what it says on the tin’. The only reliable, enforceable method is through legally binding workplace agreements for crew, enforced by accountability between retailers and their suppliers, and backed up by strong regulation.”

Williams said voluntary standards were no substitute for public regulation, nor do they eliminate the need to protect rights holders from corporate abuses. He called for more governments to adopt the ILO’s Work in Fishing Convention (C188). Despite its importance to fishers’ safety, conditions and pay, the convention has been ratified just 20 times since it came into force in 2017.

Fisheries expert and lead for the ITF fishers' rights campaign in the UK, Chris Williams | (Credit: ITF)

‘Fairwashing’ benefits brands, but not fishers

Far from fulfilling their specific goal of providing accurate assessments of labour outcomes and risks, or even a more general goal of improving in the working and living conditions of crew; Williams says voluntary tools and standards were making the problems of fishers worse.

Williams pointed to the findings from research recently published in Marine Policy he authored alongside Dr Jess Sparks, Research Assistant Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University. In the peer reviewed paper, Williams and Dr Sparks make the case that voluntary tools give the illusion of oversight of labour outcomes but in practice undermined existing and potential regulation protecting fishers.

“The shift from binding, international conventions and their standards into non-binding commitments undertaken purely in the private sphere without the engagement or leadership of workers creates an absence of legally enforceable consequences – increasing the likelihood of abuses to take place,” said Sparks, who led the research.

“'Voluntarisation' denies workers the right to meaningful remedy and recourse, while rewarding unfounded and false narratives that conditions have improved with increased market access for those who can pay,” Sparks said.

With the evidence clear on the dangers to fishers and to corporate reputations, Chris Williams encouraged SEA Alliances’ business leaders to engage with union groups such as the ITF to establish robust, independent worker-centric arrangements across their supply chains in support of labour participation, monitoring, and remediation.

Notes:

In December 2022, fishers' unions adopted a new shared global position regarding seafood supply chain voluntary certifications and standards at their five yearly ITF Fisheries Section Conference in Amsterdam. Read the statement in full here. Cover image credit: YeeLoon L.

Anonymous (not verified) 01 Mar 2023