London. UK. / Suva. Fiji. Following the public highlighting on 16 January by Human Rights at Sea (HRAS) of the case of two exploited Indonesian fishers of the Chinese-owned, Fijian-flagged He Shun 38 (No.00359) vessel, both crew are reported as being repatriated to Indonesia on Thursday 28th January with some wages paid. Further, the...
Tag: Fishers
Indonesian Fishers fight for Safe Working Conditions and Repatriation from the Marshall Islands
London. UK. / Indonesia. The prevalent issue of poor and abusive conditions for Indonesian migrant fishers continues to be highlighted internationally by local NGOs. Destructive Fishing Watch (DFW) Indonesia has been sharing evidence gathered to further shine a spotlight on fisher's working circumstances, including during the COVID-19 pandemic, which fail to reflect the safety...
Ongoing investigation of Indonesian fishers abandoned and exploited in Fiji
London, UK. / Suva, Fiji. Humanitarian ship visitors working with the UK charitable NGO, Human Rights at Sea, have been alerted to exploited Indonesian crew on a Chinese owned Fijian-flagged long-liner abandoned in the Port of Suva without their wages apparently being paid for 12 months. Crew circumstances include having to continue to work...
Reports of human rights abuse towards Indonesian fishers increasing
London. UK. Increasing numbers of cases of human and labour rights abuse towards Indonesian fishers on foreign flagged vessels are coming to light. Most recently, international NGOs, including Human Rights at Sea, have been contacted with evidence highlighting the fishers' plight, the poor working conditions in which they are forced to work and allegations...
World Day against Human Trafficking 2020 – Seafood Working Group Statement
London. UK. On World Day against Human Trafficking, the Seafood Working Group, of which Human Rights at Sea is a member, has put out a statement in response to Thailand’s ranking in the 2020 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report. The SWG is a coalition of over 60 labor rights, human rights, and environmental non-governmental organizations....
Fijian Fishers Exploitative and Dangerous Working Conditions Exposed
"‘Once I was transshipped . I was put into a steel crate (the one they keep fish in) along with my belongings and my papers in a plastic bag. They put floats or buoys around the crate so that it would float; they gave me a torch. It...
Social Protection of Fishers and Development of the Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea
"My ultimate aim is that fishermen, flag state nationals and migrant fishermen alike, are treated in accordance with universal human rights and the standards on safety at sea in fishing in its broad sense and that the next common fisheries policy incorporates the outlines of a responsible policy on safety at sea protecting life...
Taiwanese Fisheries Agency addresses 2019 Greenpeace Fisheries Slavery Report with Prosecutors
London. UK. FISHERIES. The Taiwanese Government has responded to the Greenpeace allegations of forced labour practices in the Taiwanese fleet from the 2019 report: '“SEABOUND: The Journey to Modern Slavery on the High Seas”. The Fisheries Agency of Taiwan has now forwarded the cases to the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors Office....
VIDEO. Indian Fishermen stranded in Iran without pay and food running low
'After the pilgrims and students then we will come to the fishermen'. London. UK. Human Rights at Sea has been requested to raise the plight of up to an assessed 1000 Indian fishermen stranded in and around Kish Island, Iran, without work and pay since 24 February, and who are now running very short...
Scottish Fisheries Skipper found guilty of assault and racially-aggravated harassment
London. UK. A Scottish skipper has been found guilty at Peterhead Sheriff's Court of assault and racially-aggravated harassment of five non-EEA crew members over a period of six years. It is reported that: "Gordon Hadden admitted racially harassing Jasen Gicale, Jason Gorgonia Gulane, Jay Suycano, Rolan Gulane Barte and Noly Frejoles on board the...
Manning Agents & UK Fisheries Supply Chain Investigative Report & Case Study of Non-EEA crew from the Philippines
Press Release Immediate London.UK. Human Rights at Sea has published a new case study exploring the issue of Philippine manning agencies supplying Non-EEA crew to the UK Fisheries industry and the issues this raises in terms of transparency of practice, due diligence to assure welfare safeguards for crew, and the necessary safeguards required to...
Marlins and Human Rights at Sea new Diversity and Inclusion at Sea course goes live
PRESS RELEASE Immediate Marlins and Human Rights at Sea new Diversity and Inclusion at Sea course goes live Marlins, V.Group’s training business and Human Rights at Sea collaboration on a Diversity and Inclusion at Sea e-learning course is now available and being offered free of charge to individual seafarers for a limited time via...
Thailand prematurely upgraded in annual anti-trafficking report
PRESS RELEASE Immediate Thailand prematurely upgraded in annual anti-trafficking report Move unwarranted and could slow progress, according to international coalition (Washington, DC) – The U.S. State Department has removed Thailand from the lowest ranking in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report in a move that an international coalition of human rights, labor...
Case Study: New Zealand Foreign Charter Vessels Amendment Act in force – protecting fishers?
“Once vessels are flagged to New Zealand the full range of New Zealand law including employment relations and workplace health and safety law will automatically apply and be enforceable.” Hon NATHAN GUY (Minister for Primary Industries) 14 February 2013 Over the last decade, the New Zealand fishing industry has been shaken by a series...
The HRAS Interview: Steve Trent Co-founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)
“In all my experience, over two decades, I cannot think of situations that I’ve seen where extreme violence has been as commonplace as it is in Thailand” _ Over fishing and Commonplace Violence in Thailand _ Read the Full Interview...