NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 l VOL 72 ISSUE 11
worldfishing.net
Viewpoint 3 | Opinion 10 | Insight 14 | Fishing Technology 36 | Aquaculture 40
A QUARTER OF FORCED LABOUR FISHING VESSELS LINKED WITH EUROPE One in four fishing vessels accused of forced labour are owned by European companies, with a quarter more flagged to China. That’s according to a new report by the Financial Transparency Coalition which reveals that 22.5% of industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels accused of forced labour were owned by European companies, topped by Spain, Russian and UK firms. “Forced labour aboard commercial fishing vessels is a human rights crisis, affecting more than 100,000 fishers every year, leading to horrific abuses and even deaths among fishers who mainly come from global South regions like south-east Asia and Africa,” said Matti Kohonen, Executive Director of the Financial Transparency Coalition. ”Yet those owning these vessels mostly hide behind complex, cross-jurisdictional corporate structures ranging from shell companies to opaque joint ventures.” The report entitled “Dark links: uncovering those behind forced labour on fishing fleets” also found that companies from just five countries – China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and Spain – own almost two-thirds of accused vessels for which legal ownership data is available. In total, 128,000 fishers, mostly from the global south, were trapped in forced labour aboard fishing vessels in 2021, often in the high
Greener fishing page 19
NEW HORIZONS
n Some 128,000 fishers were trapped in forced labour aboard fishing vessels in 2021
seas, although the true figure could be much greater, according to the UN International Labour Organisation (ILO). They suffered abuses ranging from physical violence and debt bondage to abusive working conditions. Other key findings of the report include that more than 40% of industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels accused of forced labour operated in Asia, followed by Africa (21%), Europe (14%) and LAC (11%). It warns that beneficial ownership information is rarely, if ever requested, by most countries when registering vessels or requesting fishing licenses, meaning that those ultimately responsible for the abuses are not detected and punished.
SCOTTISH SALMON INDUSTRY RELIEVED AS HPMA PLAN IS SCRAPPED Following a consultation period, Net Zero Secretary Màiri McAllan said: “In response to the findings of the consultation, and as I set out in parliament earlier this year, the proposal to implement Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) across 10% of Scotland’s seas by 2026 will not be progressed.” Salmon farming body Salmon Scotland welcomed the decision, saying the industry had repeatedly raised concerns about the proposal. “This confirmation is a huge relief for salmon farmers and all those who rely on our sector who were concerned about the impact on their livelihoods,” Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott said.
SPECIAL REPORT
Octopus farming – to be or not to be? page 12
INTERVIEW
Young skipper hopes to inspire future fishers page 16
NEWBUILDS
According to Salmon Scotland, Scottish salmon farms support 12,500 jobs, many in coastal communities, and add more than GBP 760 milliona-year to the country’s economy.
Sille Marie joins Norwegian enterprise page 34