Problems

Overfishing and by-catch, which happen both in normal tuna fishing and in Illegal, Unreported, Unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), are important and well-known problems in the tuna sector. This causes depletion of fish-stocks and harms biodiversity. Every year, a fleet of fishing vessels race to catch the fish at the most important and vulnerable stage of their life cycle. The fishing fleets catch well beyond the levels allowed by the quota, and much of the fish caught is too young not having the chance to breed and therefore repopulate the diminishing stocks. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has assigned fishing as the most dangerous profession in the world. Especially in Asia the conditions on board of vessels that catch tuna and other fish are dangerous. Fish pirates (IUU fishing) especially do not follow the regulations leading to hazardous working conditions. Coupled with the risk of the activity are the very long working hours and extensive contracts. The average wage rates for cannery workers in Southeast Asian countries is less than €0,25 per hour. In tuna canneries in Papua New Guinea the weekly earnings of a worker based on 47 hours a week could amount to €12.The right to form and join a trade union is not recognized in tuna producing countries such as the Maldives. In this country there are no unions since there is no legal protection from anti-union discrimination.