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Fishers

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Fishing is one of the world's earliest industries and today provides a livelihood for millions of families around the world. Approximately 36 million people are engaged in capture fishing and aquaculture worldwide. Of these, an estimated 27 million work in capture fishing alone. Like seafarers, fishers are exposed to significant hazards, including rough weather at sea, crushing waves, powerful and dangerous machinery, hooks and shark bites. An estimated 24,000 persons working in the fish industry die from work-related causes every year. Fishing is also a very diverse industry, ranging from highly organized commercial deep-sea fishing operations to the more common small-scale and artisan fishing. The majority of fishers still belong to the informal sector. An estimated 45% of the total world catch is taken by small-scale fishers. The wage payment system is normally based on a share in the value of the catch. Many fishers are employed in fishing only on a part-time and temporary basis and earn the rest of their income through additional occupations, agricultural or other. To respond to the specific needs of workers engaged in fishing, the ILO has developed standards specifically aimed at providing protection for the men and women who work in this sector. (Note 1) In view of the importance of the fishing industry and the developments that have taken place since the adoption of fishing standards in 1959 and 1966 respectively, the ILO is drafting a new, comprehensive standard on conditions of work in the fishing sector (pdf 1,11 MB), set to be adopted in 2005.

Selected relevant ILO instruments

  • Medical Examination (Fishermen) Convention, 1959 (No. 113) - [ratifications]
    Provides that no person shall be employed in any capacity on a vessel if he or she is not fit enough to be employed at sea. Requires ratifying states to provide prior medical examination and time-limited certification by an approved medical practitioner.
  • Fishermen's Articles of Agreement Convention, 1959 (No. 114) - [ratifications]
    Provides that articles of agreement (contracts) shall be signed both by the owner of the vessel or his authorized representative and by the fisher. The agreement shall clearly state the respective rights and obligations of each of the parties and shall, among other things, specify the voyage or voyages to be undertaken, the capacity in which the fisher is to be employed, the amount of his wages, and the termination of the agreement.
  • Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125) - [ratifications]
    Requires ratifying states to establish standards of qualification for certificates of competency for the skipper, mate or engineer on board a fishing vessel, and to organize and supervise the examination of candidates to ensure that they have the necessary qualifications. Sets forth the minimum age and minimum professional experience necessary for each profession, competences necessary for specific categories and grades of certificates for which candidates have to prove their qualification.
  • Accommodation of Crews (Fishermen) Convention, 1966 (No. 126) - [ratifications]
    Sets forth requirements on crew accommodation with respect to bulkheads, sleeping rooms, ventilation, heating, lighting, floor space, mess rooms, sanitary facilities, galleys and medical facilities.

Note 1 - ILO: Conditions of work in the fishing sector, Report V(I), International Labour Conference, 92nd Session, Geneva, 2004.



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