22/07/2025
🚨 New investigative report from Blue Marine exposes the stark contrast between the profits of many European fishing companies and the ongoing exploitation of West African crew members.
Horrendous instances of forced labour and abuse on board Chinese fishing vessels have received significant attention in recent years. However, to date, no thorough account has existed of the conditions for crew living and working on board the European tuna fishing vessels that supply UK and EU retailers with the tuna that lines their shelves.
The report amplifies the first-hand accounts of discriminatory treatment faced by many West African crew members, both on board and on shore. These issues were experienced to varying degrees on different vessels and ranged from insufficient medical care to unexplained dismissals, and from unfair employment terms to excessive working hours.
Jess Rattle, Blue Marine’s Head of Investigations and co-author of the report, said: “Some of these crew members gave decades of their lives to a fishing company before being let go without explanation, with others continuing to work gruelling hours at sea while still not being able to adequately provide for their families back home.”
As the global demand for tuna continues to grow, profits cannot be placed above the wellbeing, safety and fair pay of crew members at sea. Swipe to learn more and follow Blue Marine for updates on this work.
