The 2019 Trafficking in Persons report, was published by US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, focusing on government efforts to tackle human trafficking and highlights strategies to address this crime and protect the victims. This year’s report, the 19th installment, includes narratives for 187 countries and territories, including the U.S.
Norwegian Government’s State Secretary Marianne Hagen commented on maritime security in the Western Indian Ocean, during a ministerial conference. She highlighted that Somali piracy hasn’t been eradicated yet. The State Secretary noted that Norway wishes to maintain its capacity on prosecuting and imprisoning pirates here in the region, with Mauritius, the Seychelles and Kenya as important partners.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) called on the Thai government to implement and enforce the ‘Work in Fishing’ Convention, and ratify ILO Conventions 87 and 98, to decrease the risks of forced labour or labour rights abuses in seafood industry supply chains in Thailand.
The Environmental Justice Foundation filmed illegal activities as they took place at sea and undertook first-hand monitoring at ports and data analysis to present the full catastrophic scale of this form of organised crime. ‘Saiko’ is a form of illegal fishing, where foreign trawlers target the staple catch of Ghanaian canoe fishers and sell this stolen fish back to local communities at a profit.
Oceana published an investigative report showcasing the power of technology to shed light on possible illegal fishing and human rights abuses at sea. Using the Global Fishing Watch mapping platform, Oceana analyzed the activities of vessels with histories of possible illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, forced labor or human trafficking.
A new report by the Environmental Justice Foundation describes cases of slavery, debt bondage, insufficient food and water, filthy living conditions, physical and sexual assault and even murder on board fishing ships from 13 countries operating across three oceans.
While South African authorities used ‘to turn a blind eye to fishing’, the Department of Fisheries and Forestry has now appointed inspectors who attend on vessels to check whether there is any illegal fish onboard, the West Club informed citing information by the South Africa P&I Associates (Pty) Ltd.
During the International Day Against IUU fishing, June 5, five organizations launched a report outlining the minimum transparency and anti-IUU fishing measures deemed vital for Regional Fisheries Management Organizations (RFMOs). The recommendations span from the point of harvest, through the landing, transportation and trade of fish products, including traceability systems along the value chain.
Mr Kurt Cornelis, Head of Cooperation, EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, announced in a press conference that the EU decided to support the implementation of strategies in maritime, fisheries and illegal drug trafficking that are taking place in the Gulf of Guinea.
Marks & Spencer and Waitrose & Partners have signed the Environmental Justice Foundation’s Charter for Transparency. They now join the Co-op, Sainsbury’s and Tesco in making a pledge to make sure their seafood supply chains are free from illegal fishing and human rights abuse. According to EJF, this is a significant step forward, as together these five companies represent the vast majority of grocery sales in the UK.
