Based on my presentation at TUNA 2022, during the 17th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition in Bangkok, last October. My friends from the INFOFISH magazine asked me to write an article around the issues of labour on board tuna vessels from my personal experience and perspective as an ex-fisherman, that now work on compliance aspects and does research and policy work on this topic. But also that none of these initiatives addresses exploitation and the “equal pay for equal work” principle.
The article was just published in the issue 2/2023 (March/April 2023) of the INFOFISH International magazine. but you you can download the pdf from here or read from the images below.
I wrote this article for INFOFISH to provide an update on the current global developments (both positive and negative), and ask who should legally be looking after the interests and welfare of workers on board tuna vessels.
I’m really thankful to INFOFISH for the opportunity and for respecting my take on this complex topic… that would not be really complex if flag states lived up to their obligations. I had to smile at the last bit of what they wrote about me as the author: “This article has undergone minimal editing so as to adequately convey Francisco’s strong opinions in his inimitable style and candour, on why we must think of people before profits.”
