Home  /  What We Do  /  Compliance & Enforcement  /  Use of Forced Labour in the Fishing Industry

 

Use of Forced Labour in the Fishing Industry


As of 10 January 2026, the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority has a role in the identification, investigation of the use of forced labour to conduct fishing activities, and to take the necessary enforcement action.

The relevant legislation can be found in Article 20 of EU Delegating Regulation 2025/1766 “Inspections relating to fishing activities conducted with the use of forced labour”.

 

If you believe that you, or if you have information to suggest others, have been used as forced labour in the fishing industry, please contact the SFPA either through our network of offices around the coastline, by completing our online Confidential Reporting Form 

 

Indicators for the identification of fishing activities conducted with the use of forced labour.

(Please note the below is not an exhaustive list) 

Deception

    1. Fishers lack a written contract, or the contract is written in a language they do not understand;
    2. Fishers recruited on understanding that the employment is legal when in fact it is not;
    3. Fishers promised to work with a different employer/on board a different fishing vessel

Abusive Working Conditions

    1. denial of medical treatment in case of injury;
    2. denial of the right to shore for medical treatment in the event of serious illness or injury.

Abusive Living Conditions

    1. malnutrition (including cases of beriberi) and dehydration among fishers;
    2. inadequate or intolerable sanitary facilities;
    3. not adequate headroom/overcrowded.

Excessive Overtime

    1. severely inadequate crew size for vessel type/gear;
    2. excessively long fishing trips;
    3. chronic lack of rest hours and days off;
    4. denial of shore leave and annual leave.

Work with remuneration sub-standards or no wage

    1. fishers partially or completely deprived of wages.

Abusive vulnerability

    1. vulnerable fishers, including migrant fishers, forced to work in intolerable conditions or threat of violence.

Restriction of movement

    1. fishers cannot leave the vessel, including while at port.

Isolation

    1. fishers are kept at sea beyond agreed time;
    2. fishers are isolated from other crew members on board;
    3. fishers have their cell phone confiscated;
    4. fishers are denied access to communication systems and/or Wi-Fi.

Physical or sexual violence

    1. physical sign of injury or other evidence of physical, sexual or psychological violence;
    2. fishers subject to abusive language.

Intimidation and threats

    1. fishers are faced with multiple threats as means of coercion and control, including additional work or denial of food/meals.

Withholding of wages or other promised benefits

    1. master or recruitment agency holds passports, visa or work permits of fishers.

Debt bondage or manipulation of debt

    1. fishers are charged with additional costs for basic services on board.


Useful links

An Garda Siochana Labour exploitation – Blue Blindfold Campaign

Migrants Rights Centre https://www.mrci.ie/

Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority Confidential Reporting

 

If you believe that you, or if you have information to suggest others have been used as forced labour in the fishing industry, please contact the SFPA either through our network of offices around the coastline, or by completing our online Confidential Reporting Form