New Report Uncovers Forced Labor and Slavery-Like Conditions on Fishing Vessels
A new report by the Financial Transparency Coalition has revealed the widespread presence of forced labor and slavery-like conditions on fishing vessels across the globe. The research, which identifies nearly 500 industrial fishing vessels involved in such abuses, highlights the challenges in holding responsible parties accountable due to a lack of transparency and regulatory oversight.
The report, published by the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization, sheds light on the alarming conditions endured by tens of thousands of workers trapped in hazardous environments at sea. It found that a quarter of the vessels implicated in worker abuse are flagged to China, whose distant water fleet dominates high-seas fishing. Russia, Spain, Thailand, Taiwan, and South Korea were also identified as sources of mistreatment.
Forced labor in the seafood industry is a pervasive human rights crisis, according to the report’s authors. In 2015, The Associated Press uncovered the plight of migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos who were subjected to abuse on Thai vessels, with much of their catch ending up in the United States.
The fishing industry faces increasing pressure globally to address labor abuses in their supply chains. The International Labor Organization estimates that up to 128,000 fishers worldwide face threats of violence, debt bondage, excessive overtime, and other indicators of forced labor.
While U.S. and European companies are being urged to clean up their labor-intensive industries, the seafood industry has so far escaped the same level of scrutiny. Governments often struggle to regulate activities that take place hundreds of miles from land, contributing to the lack of oversight. President Joe Biden’s administration recently decided to abandon plans to expand the Seafood Import Monitoring Program, which aimed to prevent illegal fishing and forced labor on foreign vessels supplying seafood to the United States.
Transparency is further hindered by the fact that many offenders are licensed by countries known for financial secrecy and minimal fleet oversight, such as Panama and Belize. Of the vessels implicated in abuse and whose ownership was identified by the Financial Transparency Coalition, 18% flew flags of convenience, a practice used by companies to evade scrutiny and hide their shareholder structure.
The report points to two Chinese companies, ZheJiang Hairong Ocean Fisheries Co. and Pingtan Marine Enterprises, as the worst offenders, with ten and seven vessels, respectively, accused of human rights violations. China National Fisheries Corp., a state-owned company, also had five vessels implicated. None of the companies responded to the Associated Press’s request for comment.
To compile the list of 475 vessels suspected of forced labor since 2010, the Financial Transparency Coalition reviewed government reports, media accounts, and complaints by advocacy groups. Unfortunately, only around half of these vessels had available flag information, underscoring the urgent need for greater ownership transparency.
This new report emphasizes the urgent need for action to address forced labor and slavery-like conditions in the fishing industry. It is crucial for governments, businesses, and international organizations to work together in establishing stricter regulations, improving oversight, and promoting transparency to ensure the safety and well-being of fishers worldwide. Only by taking collective action can we eradicate this shocking human rights crisis on our seas.
