IN BRIEF - 22.5% of European commercial fishing vessels accused of using forced labor
EUROPEAN UNION
Monday, February 12, 2024
Europe is second only to Asia, whose companies, especially those from China, own nearly two-thirds of the ships involved in forced labor. An estimated 128,000 fishermen suffer horrific abuses as a result of forced labor on board fishing vessels every year, a figure that likely significantly underestimates the full scale of this crisis.
According to the International Labor Organization (ILO), abuses include physical violence, non-payment of wages and being required to spend more time in the workplace than allowed.
According to a recent report, 22.5% of commercial fishing vessels accused of forced labor are owned by European companies, led by Spain and the UK.
Most European countries - along with other fishing superpowers such as China, Indonesia and the US - have yet to ratify key treaties prohibiting forced labor on fishing vessels, such as ILO Labor Convention 188, while the relevant EU directive applies only to EU-flagged vessels or vessels operating in EU waters.
Even if countries comply with the ILO Convention and other key agreements, financial secrecy means that the ultimate owners of accused ships can continue to evade justice.
Crucially, ratification of these agreements will result in the proceeds of forced labor courts being consistent with the proceeds of crime under money laundering laws, making prosecution easier.
During 2024, Ventisqueros strengthened its Sustainable Schools Program, benefiting 14 rural schools in the municipalities of Hualaihué, Quemchi, Quinchao, Puerto Varas, Chaitén, and Ayacara in the Los Lagos Region. Developed in partnership with Fundación La Semilla, the initiative promotes early environmental education, school innovation, and community development in remote areas.
The program includes environmental workshops, educational fairs, agroecological activities, the delivery of supplies, and ongoing technical support, enabling each school community to develop its own projects through the Sustainable School Funds (FES). Thanks to this support, schools have made progress in recycling, energy efficiency, school gardens, cultural heritage preservation, sustainable infrastructure, and environmental education, generating tangible improvements in their surroundings.
A key milestone was the progress made by four schools toward Environmental Certification from the Ministry of the Environment (SNCAE), recognizing their ability to integrate sustainable practices into school management.
The initiative also includes educational visits to Ventisqueros’ fish farms and hatcheries, strengthening the connection between education, territory, and responsible aquaculture. Through this work, Ventisqueros reaffirms its commitment to sustainability built through education and projected toward the future.
The demonstration coincides with a meeting scheduled for this afternoon with the Secretary General for Fisheries, Isabel Artime, after a week of the fleet being moored in protest.
Ayamonte – The fishing sector in Ayamonte is continuing its protest against the new European Fisheries Control Regulation today with a demonstration scheduled for 4:00 p.m. at the Punta del Moral fishing pier. This coincides with a meeting planned for the same time between representatives of the sector and the Secretary General for Fisheries, Isabel Artime.
The mobilization comes after the fleet remained moored last week as a protest against regulations that shipowners and crews consider disproportionate, rigid, and out of touch with the realities of artisanal and inshore fishing.
The sector argues that the application of the regulation imposes administrative burdens that are difficult to bear, such as the individual declaration of catches and the obligation to notify authorities of their arrival in port several hours in advance. These measures create operational uncertainty and jeopardize the economic viability of numerous vessels.
With this gathering, maritime professionals are demanding real dialogue, flexibility, and adaptation of the regulations, so that the necessary control and sustainability are compatible with the daily work of the traditional fleet.
The research vessel Árni Friðriksson arrived in Akureyri a week ago after completing a week-long survey of capelin spawning migrations east and north of Iceland.
Árni Friðriksson tracks in the capelin survey 5-12 January 2026 (pink) along with acoustic values ??for capelin (red lines perpendicular to the survey tracks). The grey line shows the 400 m depth contour. Source: hafogvatn
The survey aimed to map the current distribution of the capelin stock to support planning and assessment of a forthcoming comprehensive survey.
Findings indicate that the traditional eastward spawning migration has not yet progressed. The leading edge of the migration was located northeast of Langanes, where capelin abundance was negligible. Capelin were subsequently observed along the continental shelf edge toward the Kolbeinsey Ridge and farther west, where the highest densities were recorded.
Stormy weather prevented the vessel from surveying areas farther west, while sea ice off the Westfjords also limited coverage.
Based on these results, a more extensive assessment of the capelin stock is planned for early next week. The survey will involve five vessels: the research ships Árni Friðriksson and Þórunn Þórðardóttir, and the fishing vessels Barði, Heimaey and Polar Ammassak.
Polish fishermen have stopped landing sprat at the port of Nexø because prices have fallen too low, according to Danish media Fiskeritidende.
A difference of just two Danish kroner per kilo — approximately $0.31 USD/kg — has led Polish sprat fishermen to prefer landing their catch in Poland rather than on Bornholm. This pricing gap is reported by TV2 Bornholm.
In Poland, fishermen can receive about 4.60 DKK per kilo (roughly $0.72 USD/kg), while in Nexø they were offered around 2.60 DKK per kilo (about $0.41 USD/kg).
The price drop is attributed to lower demand, partly because mink feed factories in the Bornholm port city no longer operate at previous levels. Additionally, sprat is widely regarded as an edible fish in Poland, sustaining stronger local demand.
The shift has had noticeable economic effects on the Port of Nexø. In past years the port earned over 1 million DKK in landing fees (more than $155,000 USD), but this year it expects re
The strike threatens to leave fish markets without auctions, strain the fresh fish market, and spark a standoff with Brussels and the Spanish government.
This Monday, January 19, 2026, the sea will fall silent along much of the Spanish coast. Fishermen's associations have called a nationwide strike, with boats moored and fish markets closed, in protest against the implementation of the new catch control framework derived from Regulation (EU) 2023/2842 and its operational deployment in Spain. The National Federation of Fishermen's Associations (FNCP) speaks of "dangerous and unenforceable" obligations
The Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries of the Argentine Ministry of Economy reports that the European Commission's Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) has offered the country the opportunity to connect directly through the CATCH System, the EU's new digital platform for certifying fishery products, which came into effect on January 10.
One of the competitive advantages of connecting to this new system, according to the Argentine government, is "avoiding the administrative burden on importers, thus ensuring greater efficiency in the entry of goods into the European bloc. In this way, Argentine companies would not experience delays in the entry of their products."
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
CPS brings charges over alleged Scottish salmon misrepresentation.
Four individuals have been charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in connection with the alleged misrepresentation of smoked salmon products.
The charges follow what the Food Standards Agency said was a lengthy and complex investigation carried out by its National Food Crime Unit (NFCU). The defendants appeared at York Magistrates’ Court this week and have been charged with conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
Scottish and several Nordic salmon farmers face the possibility of new turmoil following President Donald Trump’s decision to increase tariffs to several countries over Greenland.
The President has decided to slap extra tariffs on the UK, Norway and the Faroe island, along with a number of other European countries, because they sent military personnel to Greenland last week.
He is demanding that Denmark sells the large Arctic island to the US, claiming that if he doesn’t get it China or Russia will.
His move has wider political and economic implications for everyone, but the threat to European seafood exporters will be almost immediate.
Author: Vince McDonagh / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Vietnamese seafood company agrees to use stunner to slaughter 1,800 tonnes that will be prioritised by UK-based supplier
Vietnamese food and seafood company Trang Corporation has joined the Shrimp Welfare Project’s Humane Slaughter Initiative to advance higher-welfare harvest practices in shrimp farming.
Trang Corporation has committed to electrically stun 1,800 tonnes of shrimps annually using a shrimp stunner granted by Shrimp Welfare Project (SWP).
UK-based seafood supplier Trangs Group has also joined the partnership by agreeing to prioritise the purchase of the humanely slaughtered shrimps from Trang Corporation.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
A new study from the ZeroKyst project evaluates whether Norwegian fishing vessels can reduce emissions by using battery-electric and hydrogen fuel-cell technologies.
The analysis compares three power systems for a 10.5-meter coastal gillnet vessel: a diesel-mechanical system (DMS), a diesel–battery hybrid (PHS), and a hydrogen fuel cell–battery hybrid (SHS), using a life cycle assessment (LCA).
The results show that diesel systems produce the highest direct climate and health impacts due to fuel combustion. Hybrid systems reduce operational emissions but increase environmental impacts during the manufacturing phase, mainly from batteries and fuel cells.
The SHS configuration achieves the largest emission reductions—up to 92%—when powered by renewable electricity and hydrogen produced in Norway, enabling near-zero operational emissions. However, its performance depends heavily on energy sources, component lifetimes, and infrastructure, increasing cost and technical risks. The PHS option delivers around a 30% reduction in climate impact using mature technology and existing fuel infrastructure, making it a more practical short-term solution for many coastal vessels.
The study concludes that hydrogen systems offer long-term potential, while diesel–battery hybrids currently provide the most feasible pathway to lower-emission fishing operations. The research forms part of the ZeroKyst KSP project and a PhD program, with the paper under journal review and a pre-print available.