• CIHEAM Zaragoza, FAO, and Spain's Social Marine Institute organised the advanced course in Isla Cristina (Spain), with the collaboration of the Spanish National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST), to address safety conditions in the world’s most hazardous occupation.
• This training strengthens institutional capacity to implement international frameworks protecting vulnerable fisheries workers and promoting sustainable working conditions aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Thirty-one fisheries professionals from 19 countries from Africa, Latin Asia, America and Europe attended the advanced course “Promoting decent working conditions in fisheries”, held at the Isla Cristina National Training Centre (CNF) of the Social Marine Institute (ISM), Huelva, Spain, from 19 to 23 May 2025. The course was organised by CIHEAM Zaragoza, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), through the Fisheries and Aquaculture Division, and ISM-CNT, with the collaboration of the Spanish National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST).

The programme was delivered by experts from the organising and collaborating institutions (FAO, ISM, INSST), and from the French Labour Ministry, from the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering (IUF), the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), a Senior Fellow on Human Rights and Social Equity from the Monterey Bay Aquarium, and a Senior Fishery Labour Expert. The course counted on the participation of 31 experts from 19 countries: Algeria, Comoros, Egypt, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Morocco, Namibia, Peru, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Tanzania, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Fishing is one of the world’s most hazardous occupations. Ensuring safe and decent working conditions for all in fisheries and aquaculture remains one of the sector’s biggest challenges. Situations where there are human and labour rights abuses are still observed throughout fisheries and aquaculture value chains, mainly in fishing, farming and processing in both developed and developing countries. These practices have social implications, particularly for the most vulnerable, such as migrant workers, women and children. The absence of, for example, adequate social protection (such as access to adequate pension plans, health care and unemployment benefits during closed fishing seasons), insufficient training of fishing vessel personnel, the lack of formal working relationships, and inadequate working conditions are structural problems that persist in fisheries value chains, particularly in developing countries, where failure to enforce pertinent labour laws remains a significant problem in the sector.

Various international instruments are available to address human and labour rights, and to ensure decent working conditions and equitable social practices. However, their diversity, fragmentation and complexity pose a challenge for stakeholders, making their implementation and enforcement very complicated.

The course addressed the main social challenges that fisheries face in order to come up with strategies to overcome and improve these situations by protecting and empowering fishers and fish workers in the sector. It provided the knowledge and tools to elaborate mechanisms from international to national levels that enhance fishers and fish labour working conditions and their participation in defending their rights. The course also addressed the importance of advancing decent work conditions on fishing vessels operating in ocean areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), highlighting the importance of cooperation between national and international institutions to promote progress in this area. 

Over the course of the five-day programme, theoretical sessions combined with practical group work, case studies, and technical demonstrations were delivered at the Isla Cristina CNF facilities. The course also included a fishing vessel inspection exercise and a technical visit to the centre with some practical demonstration.

The programme included sessions on the international framework regulating rights and conditions in the fisheries sector; decent work deficits in fisheries affecting various groups (such as women, children, forced labourers, and migrant workers); occupational safety and health issues (including safety on fishing vessels, prevention of occupational risks, and access to health care); and cross-cutting strategies to promote decent working conditions, such as social protection schemes, social dialogue, and participation. Throughout the course, participants were divided into four groups to engage in three practical work sessions focused on: i) defining the concepts of working conditions and decent work in the fisheries sector; ii) sharing practical knowledge and experiences on promoting decent work in fisheries; and iii) developing strategies and action plans to improve working conditions. These sessions were followed by a debate on emerging issues affecting work in the fisheries sector.

Finally, course participants had the opportunity to enjoy two extracurricular activities: a visit to the Isla Cristina fish market, and a boat trip along the estuary and marshes of Isla Cristina.

Through this training, CIHEAM Zaragoza, FAO, the Social Marine Institute (ISM), and the National Institute for Safety and Health at Work (INSST) reinforce their commitment to strengthening institutional and human capacities to promote decent and sustainable working conditions in the fisheries sector, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and international frameworks on decent work.