IUU and the law (Secondary) - Lesson Four
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Lesson duration is: 45 minIntroduction
Lesson Four – How does IUU impact human rights?
This lesson covers the conditions on board fishing vessels and the issue of slavery / human trafficking.
Learning activities:
Discussion and research on how people end up on fishing vessels and why it is occurring.
Instructions
Time: 45 minutes
Contact: education@seashepherdglobal.org
© Sea Shepherd 2022
Items in this lesson
Slide 1 - Slide
This lesson is provided by Sea Shepherd. Sea Shepherd was founded in 1977 and is a marine conservation organisation working to protect the oceans and marine wildlife. Sea Shepherd works globally on a range of issues impacting the oceans, running numerous direct action campaigns each year.
Slide 2 - Slide
During the lesson we will use these icons to identify the learning actions.
Slide 3 - Slide
Ask students: “When you think about the commercial fishing industry, what do you see?”
“What type of boats do they use, who is catching the fish, how much do they catch?”
“What type of boats do they use, who is catching the fish, how much do they catch?”
Slide 4 - Slide
Most people still think the commercial fishing industry consists of small vessels with well-paid crews bringing in catches to offload at the local dock.
However much of the catch these days is taken by vessels like these in the picture. They are large vessels, bringing in massive catches. While many of the legal vessels may pay their crews properly there are a lot of illegal vessels who do not.
We previously discussed around 30% of the global fishing catch is taken illegally.
Ask students: “What do you think are the motives of the people operating these illegal vessels?”
However much of the catch these days is taken by vessels like these in the picture. They are large vessels, bringing in massive catches. While many of the legal vessels may pay their crews properly there are a lot of illegal vessels who do not.
We previously discussed around 30% of the global fishing catch is taken illegally.
Ask students: “What do you think are the motives of the people operating these illegal vessels?”
Slide 5 - Slide
The main motivation is to make money. They operate without a license, they illegally enter the waters of countries, and they take what catch they can, finding ways to sell it into the legal fish markets.
One aspect of the operation they will try to save money on is crew. They often have a core crew operating the vessel, but the fishing crew will be made up of poor workers.
Part of the human trafficking networks around the world, these workers are often slaves. They have been lured to work on fishing vessels believing they will earn a good income, enabling them to support their families. Once on board these vessels they are not paid and may not see land again for years.
One aspect of the operation they will try to save money on is crew. They often have a core crew operating the vessel, but the fishing crew will be made up of poor workers.
Part of the human trafficking networks around the world, these workers are often slaves. They have been lured to work on fishing vessels believing they will earn a good income, enabling them to support their families. Once on board these vessels they are not paid and may not see land again for years.
Slide 6 - Slide
Fishing crews work long hours to deploy fishing nets, bring them in and processing the catch.
They may only be provided with limited food rations and often penalised if the captain deems the catch not to be big enough.
Their living conditions are poor, packed into small areas to sleep, often dirty, hot and exposed to fumes from the vessel’s engines.
They may only be provided with limited food rations and often penalised if the captain deems the catch not to be big enough.
Their living conditions are poor, packed into small areas to sleep, often dirty, hot and exposed to fumes from the vessel’s engines.
Slide 7 - Slide
Illegal fishing vessels are unlikely to adhere to safe working conditions, resulting in injuries or death, and medical attention is often not provided on these vessels.
These fishermen might die at sea and be simply thrown overboard, with their families never knowing what happened to them.
These fishermen might die at sea and be simply thrown overboard, with their families never knowing what happened to them.
Slide 8 - Video
This video (4.27min) shows Sea Shepherd’s campaign in Tanzania and explains a little about the issues workers face.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Q00iciLuc&t=21s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9Q00iciLuc&t=21s
Slide 9 - Slide
Close
Slide 10 - Slide
Refer Lesson Guide for activity suggestions.
