BLOOD AND WATER: HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSE IN THE GLOBAL SEAFOOD INDUSTRY (2019)
This report sets out the linkages between rapidly declining fish stocks in the world’s oceans, in part caused by the widespread practice of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and serious human rights abuses in the global seafood industry. It provides case studies describing the problem, and analyses solutions that can be employed to address it – in particular, the pressing need for greater transparency in fisheries.
Citation: EJF (2019) Blood and Water: Human rights abuse in the global seafood industry. London, United Kingdom: Environmental Justice Foundation.
REPORT ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING, FORCED LABOUR AND FISHERIES CRIME IN THE INDONESIAN FISHING INDUSTRY (2016)
This research provides a glimpse into a far-reaching and well-entrenched criminal industry operating alongside the legitimate fishing industry, and often overlapping. The report draws on investigations conducted by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and Indonesia Presidential Task Force to Combat Illegal Fishing into IUU Fishing and the assessments conducted by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Indonesia with fishers and seafarers, both foreign nationals and Indonesians, who were identified as victims of trafficking and provided IOM assistance.
Citation: IOM (2016) Report on Human Trafficking, Forced Labour and Fisheries Crime in the Indonesian Fishing Industry. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Migration.
In African waters. The trafficking of Cambodian fishers in South Africa (2014)
This study discusses the trafficking of men in the fishing industry. It focuses on Cambodian men severely exploited in South African waters. Through extensive interviews, NEXUS reveals the stories of how the men were recruited and transported as well as their trafficking experiences at sea. The study also discusses how these trafficked fishers were (or, more commonly, were not) identified as trafficking victims and what assistance they did (or did not) receive when they escaped and returned home to Cambodia and sought to reintegrate into their families and communities.
Citation: Surtees, R. (2014) In African Waters. The Trafficking of Cambodian Fishers in South Africa. Washington, D.C., United States: NEXUS Institute and Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Trapped at Sea. Using the Legal and Regulatory Framework to Prevent and Combat the Trafficking of Seafarers and Fishers (2013)
In this article, NEXUS frames what constitutes trafficking at sea, both in the commercial fishing sector and in the merchant fleet and presents the legal and regulatory framework to combat trafficking at sea – namely, international anti-trafficking law, international maritime law and the international law of the sea. The article considers the “three P paradigm” of anti-trafficking (that is, prevention, protection and prosecution) and how improved policies, regulation, legislation and enforcement have the potential to contribute to an improved situation for seafarers and fishers—to both prevent and combat trafficking in commercial fishing and the merchant fleet.
Citation: Surtees, R. (2013) ‘Trapped at Sea. Using the Legal and Regulatory Framework to Prevent and Combat the Trafficking of Seafarers and Fishers’, Groningen Journal of International Law.
Trafficked at sea. The exploitation of Ukrainian seafarers and fishers (2012)
Trafficking for forced labor, including trafficking for labor in the merchant shipping and fishing industries, has been increasingly recognized as a major form of human trafficking. Reported cases signal that there are aspects of the commercial fishing and seafaring sectors which may lend themselves particularly to trafficking abuses. This paper explores and discusses the experiences of trafficked Ukrainian seafarers and fishers in order that anti-trafficking policies and programs can take into account their experiences and needs. While the stories of these trafficked Ukrainian seafarers and fishers highlight some unique experiences, many of the issues raised in this report have wider application to incidences of trafficking at sea around the world.
Citation: Surtees, R. (2012) Trafficked at Sea. The Exploitation of Ukrainian Seafarers and Fishers. Washington, D.C., United States: NEXUS Institute.
TRAFFICKING AND FORCED LABOUR OF THAI MALES IN DEEP-SEA FISHING (2011)
This report focuses mostly on the Thai situation. It reflects the findings from a study that the Mirror Foundation initiated to learn more about the increasing number of missing persons reports they were receiving on Thai males. The research is based on interactions with more than 80 victims trafficked for fishing. The report is offered as the basis for further research or programme response to human rights violations and crimes for labour exploitation.
Citation: Mirror Foundation (2011) Trafficking and Forced Labour of Thai Males in Deep-Sea Fishing. Bangkok, Thailand: Mirror Foundation, Anti-Human Trafficking Center.