Human Rights at Sea, alongside the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) and The Fishermen’s Mission, has published a new briefing note covering the topic of UK Share Fishermen in respect of the ILO 188 Work in Fishing Convention 2007 to provide clarity and a new baseline reference publication in support of new UK legislation reflecting the application of ILO 188.
ILO 188 is the international minimum standard regulating living and working conditions on board fishing vessels. It is based on a tripartite agreement reflecting the needs of the fishing industry, and came into force internationally on 16th November 2017
The new Briefing Note aims to provide readers with a plain-English explanation of the status of share fishermen, and it intends to help those in the UK fisheries supply chain better understand the basis upon which share fishermen are engaged, the activities they undertake, and the rights and responsibilities they have.
‘The right to be a share fisherman is an important part of the UK Fishing industry and is a historic privilege enjoyed by both fisherman and vessel owners equally,’ said NFFO Safety and Training Officer Robert Greenwood.
‘The introduction of ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention and its implementation into UK law, includes both employed and share fishermen, and this independent briefing note by Human Rights at Sea clarifies that the rights of a share fishermen should be unaffected by the Work in Fishing Convention changes.’
‘This timely briefing brings much needed clarity to assessments of the rights of share catch fisherman in light of the Work in Fishing Convention legislation,’ commented Commodore David Dickens RN CBE, Chief Executive of The Fishermen’s Mission.
‘It also allows individual fishermen and the industry to see clearly the overall welfare balance of choosing to work as a share catch fisherman.’
The publication has been co-funded with generous financial support from The Fishmongers’ Company, Seafarers UK and the John Ellerman Foundation. The Briefing Note can be downloaded here.
‘We are pleased to deliver this publication which has been produced with support from the industry, The Fishermen’s Mission and the NFFO to provide a useful reference tool and explanatory document in order to assist with understanding UK fisheries working conditions under ILO 188,’ said HRAS Founder and Trustee, David Hammond.
