Ministers at the 17th Annual Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting call for an increase of labour standards of the crew on fishing vessels

Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau has highlighted that the ministers at the 17th Annual Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting have called for an increase of labour standards for the crew on fishing vessels due to the ongoing evidence of human rights abuses at sea.

Koroilavesau mentioned this after Fiji First MP, Vijendra Prakash questioned Koroilavesau if he can update parliament on some priority issues discussed at the committee ministers meeting.

Koroilavesau says the regional ministers called for a full implementation of the minimum condition on crew employment that was adopted at their meeting.

They have also welcomed the support of the New Zealand government for a comprehensive multi-year project aimed at improving labour conditions in the Pacific region.

He says there were issues that were discussed during the ministers meeting, which includes the impacts of COVID 19 on tuna fisheries, climate change impacts on fisheries and safety observer on fishing vessels.