Fishing

July 10, 2018

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MANUFACTURING   
TECHNOLOGY 
INVESTING
CONSTRUCTION
FISHING
EXTRACTIVES
FOOD & BEVERAGE  
SUSTAINABILIty

 


Quick Facts

Pounds of fish the average American cat consumes in one year

Pounds of fish the average American cat consumes in one year

Value of global fish exports, 2012

Value of global fish exports, 2012

Millions of livelihoods that depend on the fishing sector

Millions of livelihoods that depend on the fishing sector

Tons of fishery products caught by fishers around the world, 2006

Tons of fishery products caught by fishers around the world, 2006

 

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Fishing is critical for global food security, but challenging to regulate in international waters, leaving workers vulnerable to abuse.

The fishing and aquaculture sector provides nutrition for the world’s growing population and jobs for millions of workers. But the mobile nature of fishing vessels and the difficulty of enforcing regulations at sea leave workers vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, including trafficking, forced labor, and even child labor. Workers involved in processing seafood products, including women and children, also face harsh conditions. Many of these are migrant workers, recruited or trafficked by labor brokers onto vessels and into processing plants. Companies producing and selling seafood products to consumers face increasing pressure to address trafficking and abuse in their supply chains. And dozens of global brands and retailers have joined Project Issara to combat forced labor and trafficking in the fishing industry in Thailand.


 

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The solution to these labor problems will require increased regulation, improved corporate sourcing practices, and greater transparency, all predicated on a sharing of responsibility between industry, governments and other stakeholders.
— Nishan Degnarain, Chair, World Economic Forum Oceans Council