Fishing remains one of the most dangerous occupations in the world. As the world celebrates International Workers’ Memorial Day, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) remembers the estimated 32 000 people who die working in the fishing industry every year. And this is a conservative number.
Looking ahead
FAO continues its fight for the safety of fishers, with a focus on the small-scale fishing sector which employs 90% of the men and women engaged in fishing worldwide and accounts for at least 40 percent of global fisheries catch.
FAO’s work focuses on raising awareness on safety and health, the provision of suitable and affordable equipment and training, the design and introduction of safer fishing vessels and the development of policies, strategies, regulations or safety codes.
FAO is working with the other United Nations agencies including the International Maritime Organization and International Labour Organization to strengthen interagency actions on sustainable fisheries in particular, the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, working conditions and labour issues on board fishing vessels, and safety standards of fishing vessels.
As the sector is expected to provide a significant contribution towards nourishing an ever-growing world population, and as it faces new challenges such as climate change, the matter of safety is becoming more pressing. Due regard must be given to the safety of human life to ensure we all benefit from the opportunities fisheries provide.