Global Tuna Alliance calls for improved labour standards to support fisher welfare

The Global Tuna Alliance has launched a campaign to call for the development of crew welfare standards to address human rights abuses in Indian Ocean tuna fisheries.

The campaign, Lives on the Line: Protect Fishers, has urged members of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission to task its Working Party on Socio-Economics with developing comprehensive labour standards drawing from the international ILO188 convention.

The upcoming IOTC meeting, taking place in France on 13 April, represented a “unique opportunity to significantly advance labour standards on tuna fishing vessels,” said GTA.

The group of retailers and supply chain companies said the human aspect of fisheries sustainability was “crucial yet often overlooked”.

“Our GTA partners have made a clear commitment to uphold the rights of tuna crew,” said Daniel Suddaby, GTA executive director. “Fishers are the backbone of this industry, and for our partners, decent working conditions at sea are non-negotiable.”

Reports had shown that fishers can endure high-risk conditions both above and below deck, where abuse often goes unreported due to fear of retaliation and lack of safeguards, said GTA.

It added that poor labour monitoring and inconsistent protections across borders meant meaningful action often came only after lives were lost.

“Together, our partners speak for millions of consumers globally who expect the tuna they buy to be sourced responsibly,” he added. “We’ll be at the IOTC to ensure that crew welfare is recognised as a pillar of sustainable tuna management.”

Decisions made at the meeting could have far-reaching implications, which is why GTA had urged delegates to take decisive action to ensure the future of Indian Ocean tuna fisheries and maintain competitiveness with other regions, it said.