Ahead of the 29th Session of the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) on 13th April, the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) is putting pressure on IOTC members to task the Working Party on Socio-Economics with developing comprehensive labour standards drawing on the international ILO188 convention with its Lives on the Line campaign.
The human aspect of fisheries sustainability is crucial yet often overlooked. Reports have shown that fishermen can endure gruelling, high-risk conditions both above and below deck, where abuse often goes unreported due to fear of retaliation and a lack of safeguards. With poor labour monitoring and inconsistent protections across borders, meaningful action often comes only after lives are lost.
‘Our GTA partners have made a clear commitment to uphold the rights of tuna crew,’ said GTA executive director Daniel Suddaby.
‘Fishers are the backbone of this industry, and for our partners, decent working conditions at sea are non-negotiable.’
‘With the IOTC meeting taking place in La Réunion — a French department and a “région d’outre-mer” — it is especially important that the voices of the French retailers we represent are heard. But this call goes far beyond France. Together, our partners speak for millions of consumers globally who expect the tuna they buy to be sourced responsibly. We’ll be at the IOTC to ensure that crew welfare is recognised as a pillar of sustainable tuna management.’
He commented that establishing safe and secure working environments is not only a moral issue — protecting people also protects economies. Poor labour standards in tuna fisheries lead to market restrictions, reputational damage for fishing nations and seafood companies, and long-term economic losses. While implementing measures to protect the human rights of workers at sea requires initial investments, the benefits are widespread.
Forced labour often goes hand-in-hand with IUU fishing, which poses threats to tuna populations, with knock-on effects on food security and marine ecosystems.
Research has shown that increasing observer coverage can have positive effects on human rights. At a basic level, it aids in managing crew manifests and monitoring working hours. In some cases, the requirement for onboard Wi-Fi for electronic monitoring has provided crew members with access to the internet, allowing them to contact friends and family, as well as authorities if issues arise. Both crew and officers of vessels feel safer with these systems in place.
Leading retailers and manufacturers, including French retailer and GTA partner Carrefour, have already voiced their desire to align tuna fisheries labour standards with international frameworks by supporting GTA’s strategy.
‘Carrefour has embarked on transforming its tuna supply chains to address ongoing biodiversity and human rights risks within this sector,’ said Agathe Grossmith, CSR Director, Carrefour Group.
‘As part of our collaboration with the GTA, we have committed to ensuring 100% observer coverage on board industrial tuna fishing vessels supplying Carrefour-branded canned tuna — an essential step toward greater transparency and accountability,’ she said.
‘The upcoming IOTC Commission meeting in La Réunion represents a unique opportunity to significantly advance labour standards on tuna fishing vessels. We fully support the French government and the European Union in their call to protect workers’ rights, and we urge other IOTC member states to join these efforts. Compliance with common standards for tuna fishing is essential and meets the expectations of our consumers worldwide.’
Decisions made at the 2025 IOTC annual meeting to begin the process of developing minimum standards for crew labour will have far-reaching implications for the welfare of fisheries communities and the industry. GTA is urging IOTC delegates to take decisive action to ensure the future of Indian Ocean tuna fisheries and maintain competitiveness with other regions, such as the Pacific, and invites supply-chain companies and retailers with an interest in sourcing tuna from ethical and socially responsible Indian Ocean fisheries to become a GTA partner.
