A new report by a British newspaper is exposing human trafficking in the fishing industry again, this time coming a lot closer to home.
The Guardian has produced a lengthy special report on the Irish fishing industry, describing migrant workers from many countries in Africa and Asia being conned into working on Irish fishing vessels, then enduring harsh conditions, including working excessively long hours without a break, being poorly paid, and verbal and sometimes physical abuse.
“Agents and owners appear to be exploiting a loophole designed for international merchant shipping, which allows non-EU seafarers to transit through the UK for up to 48 hours if they immediately move on to join vessels working in international waters,” the paper wrote. “These transit arrangements are not intended for fishermen working in national waters or constantly coming in and out of Irish ports. We understand the loophole was first exploited by agents to recruit migrant workers for the Scottish fishing fleet and the practice appears to have spread from there to the Irish fishing industry.”
The newspaper made headlines last year when it produced a report linking human trafficking in the Thai fishing industry to fishmeal used by Thai-based CP Foods to produce shrimp. Other media, including the Associated Press, have produced similar reports describing migrant workers being mistreated by Thai fishing boat operators.
Now, the Guardian is reporting a similar situation in Ireland, with undocumented migrants from Ghana, Egypt, India, the Philippines and other countries being smuggled in and forced to work on the fishing vessels.
In many cases, the paper reported workers being kept on board with debts, while others were threatened with deportation if they tried to leave. Still others, the paper reported, reported “verbal abuse and in occasional cases physical abuse such as slapping.”
The paper based its report in part on testimony from workers who escaped their captors, one worker reporting he had to jump ship to escape.
