20% of the world’s fish catch products derive from IUU fishing activities. The activities also interconnect with labour and human rights abuse in fisheries sectors, including the seafood supply chain. In reducing high-risk human rights abuses, it requires strong due diligence processes and legislation reformation, equipped with digital solutions. This background becomes one of the workshop’s objectives organized by USAID SuFia TS, focusing on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, fair labour, and technology solutions.
The RPOA-IUU secretariat had the opportunity to participate in the Workshop of the Regional Industry Forum and Workshop on Market Access Strategies organized by USAID SuFia TS in Bangkok, Thailand, from 6-7 August 2024. The workshop also invited representatives from small-scale fishers groups, private sectors, and regional bodies/organizations. The workshop aims to serve as a platform for sharing knowledge of sustainable and fair practices in fisheries sectors, exploring new solutions to address inappropriate labour conditions in fishing vessels, and boosting regional cooperation.
The workshop consists of four topics of discussion which include decent work and forced labour, ethical recruitment, and occupational and health safety. During the presentation session, we highlighted that:
- due diligence and risk-based management play crucial roles in addressing human rights abuses in fishing vessels
- occupational and health safety in fisheries requires an exceptional approach. Thailand is one of the RPOA-IUU participating countries that have ratified the ILO 188 Convention
- regional cooperation should focus on improving the cohesiveness of collaboration and preventing redundancies
In conclusion, it was said that a combination of collaboration with relevant stakeholders and use of emerging technology will bring effectiveness of combating IUU fishing, including promoting fair labour practices in fisheries sector.
