Few occupations are as hazardous or isolating as commercial fishing. Seafarers often work grueling hours for minimal pay, face treacherous weather conditions, and operate dangerous equipment far from land. For many of these workers, the sea is not just a workplace but a remote and unforgiving environment that offers little oversight and even less protection. Their vulnerability extends beyond the physical risks. According to the International Labour Organization, many seafarers endure extreme human rights violations, including forced labor, human trafficking, and harassment, often while stranded in international waters for months or even years.

Flags of Convenience Undermine Accountability at Sea

A major contributor to these abuses is the lack of regulation on the high seas. Shipowners frequently register vessels under so-called "flags of convenience," selecting countries with lax enforcement and limited labor protections. This makes it nearly impossible for authorities to hold operators accountable or to ensure compliance with international labor standards. Miren Gutierrez, a research associate with the UK’s Overseas Development Institute, explains that the ocean is one of the least supervised regions of the planet, allowing exploitative practices to flourish undetected. Migrant workers, who form the bulk of the fishing workforce, often lack the knowledge or resources to understand their rights or report abuses, making them even more susceptible to exploitation.

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Forced Labor and Abandonment Are Rampant

The scale of abuse is staggering. An estimated 128,000 fishers are currently trapped in forced labor situations aboard distant-water vessels, many of which rarely dock. Even more disturbing is the death toll. The fishing industry is believed to suffer 100,000 fatalities annually, one of the highest occupational death rates globally. The abuse does not end with labor exploitation. According to the International Transport Workers' Federation, over 2,200 seafarers have been abandoned in 2025 alone, left without pay, food, or medical assistance on deteriorating ships in foreign ports.

Labour Violations and IUU Fishing Go Hand in Hand

Numerous studies have established a clear link between labor abuses and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. While some national and international laws exist to combat IUU fishing and protect worker rights, enforcement remains inconsistent. Compounding the problem is the lack of global harmonization in human rights legislation across the seafood supply chain, despite the sector’s highly traded nature. This legal vacuum allows companies to operate across jurisdictions with minimal scrutiny, while exploitative practices go unchecked.

Legal Action in the U.S. Marks a Turning Point

A recent lawsuit in the United States could signal a shift in how companies are held accountable. Four Indonesian fishermen have filed suit against Bumble Bee Foods under the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA). The law allows victims to sue companies that either knew or should have known about forced labor in their supply chains. The men allege they were subjected to brutal conditions aboard Chinese-owned longline vessels that supply tuna to Bumble Bee, including beatings, denial of medical care, and lack of food. They were unable to escape or seek help due to the use of transshipment, a practice that keeps vessels at sea for extended periods by transferring catches to supply ships instead of docking.

The Seafood Industry Faces a Crisis of Responsibility

Sari Heidenreich, a senior human rights adviser at Greenpeace USA, believes this case is a wake-up call. She argues that the lawsuit sends a strong message to the global seafood industry that human rights cannot be ignored and that legal accountability is no longer avoidable. The principle that companies can be held liable for conditions on vessels deep in their supply chains is gaining traction, and it challenges the long-held assumption that the ocean’s remoteness offers immunity from regulation.

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Bumble Bee Responds, but Questions Remain

California-based Bumble Bee Foods, which is owned by Taiwanese seafood giant FCF, declined to comment directly on the lawsuit. However, in a court filing, the company stated that it “unequivocally condemns forced labour” and takes any such allegations seriously. While such statements are necessary, advocates argue that companies must go beyond public relations and implement robust due diligence mechanisms that ensure transparency and traceability throughout their supply chains.

Time for a Sea Change in Governance and Ethics

The global seafood industry stands at a crossroads. Without structural reform, including international cooperation, consistent enforcement, and corporate responsibility, the exploitation of seafarers will remain hidden beneath the waves. This moment offers an opportunity to chart a new course, one where the rights and dignity of those who work the oceans are not an afterthought, but a foundational principle.

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