The Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), at its 21st Regular Session of the Commission (28 November to 3 December 2024), continued its leadership among regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs) by adopting (para 63) the world’s first legally binding conservation and management measure (CMM) addressing labour conditions for crew members onboard authorized fishing vessels: CMM 2024-04 for Labour Standards, which will enter into force 1 January 2028 (para 19, although Members, Participating Territories and Cooperating Non-Members are encouraged to implement measures as soon as possible).
CMM 2024-04 for Labour Standards addresses the crew’s (‘persons of any age on board a fishing vessel’) working conditions, as well as the flag State’s responsibilities in the event of a death, serious injury or illness, crew missing or presumed fallen overboard, or reasonable grounds to believe (a) a crew member’s health and safety is endangered or (b) a crew member has been subjected to forced or compulsory labour and other mistreatment. Port State responsibilities are triggered when the port State is notified by either disembarked crew or the flag State of alleged/possible forced or compulsory labour and other mistreatment (paras 13-14). The State of Nationality, among others, is expected to cooperate and provide support in relation to cases of forced or compulsory labour and other mistreatment on fishing vessels, such as collecting evidence ‘where possible’ (para 15).
This follows initial steps of adopting non-binding resolutions at numerous RFMOs on the path to binding labour standards at the regional level, including WCPFC Resolution 2018-01 On Labour Standards for Crew on Fishing Vessels; NAFO Resolution (1/23) Non-Binding Resolution relating to Core Principles on Labour Standards in NAFO Fisheries; ICCAT Resolution 2023-20 on Core Principles on Labor Standards in ICCAT Fisheries; and 2024 NPFC Resolution on Core Principles on Labor Standards in NPFC Fisheries.
For further information, see the WCPFC’s Provisional Meeting Outcomes and Attachments for the 21st Commission Session, including further actions to incorporate climate change considerations into fisheries conservation and management.
De Maribus 