Stockholm university

Study maps risks of labour abuse and illegal fishing at world's ports

A new study performed at Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University has identified the regions and ports at highest risk for labour abuse and illegal fishing. Of more than 750 ports assessed around the world, more than half are associated with risk of labour abuse or illegal fishing.

The findings, published in Nature Communications, indicate two main risk factors: the country that a vessel is registered to, also known as its “flag state,” and the type of fishing gear the vessel carries onboard.

Fiskehamn med båtar i olika storlekar. Cykel i förgrunden till vänster.
Of more than 750 evaluated ports around the world, almost half were considered to be at risk of illegal fishing or forced labour. Photo: Gunnar Aneer/azotelibrary.com

Story highlights

  • Study identifies the regions and ports at highest risk for labour abuse and illegal fishing.
  • Coastal regions off West Africa, Peru, Argentina, the Falkland Islands, and the Azores had higher risks for labor abuse and illegal, unreported and illegal fishing.
  • The new assessment can help large seafood companies identify and remove potential labour abuses and illegal fishing from their supply chains.

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