Fisheries Observer Project

About the Project

Fisheries Observers are the guardians of the ocean.

They board fishing vessels to prevent illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. They regulate our fishing activities to try and keep our ocean ecosystems healthy for future generations.

But this role can place them in significant dangers. Fishing crews carrying out IUU fishing have murdered Fisheries Observers in the past to make sure they can't report their crimes. Fisheries Observers can face extremely harsh conditions, with little communication or support from crews at sea or colleagues back on land.

The Necessity of Protecting Fisheries Observers at Sea

This report focuses on raising awareness about the safety, security, well-being, and fundamental rights of fisheries observers who work at sea and highlights the critical need to protect and support fisheries observers, as their work is essential for ensuring the sustainability of global fisheries.

The report includes real incidents, such as alleged harassment and tragic deaths, to illustrate the challenges and risks faced by fisheries observers and provides urgent recommendations for state, regional, and global authorities responsible for fisheries management to take immediate action to improve observer safety and well-being.

Download the report

HRAS_The_Necessity_of Protecting_Fisheries_Observers_OCT 23.pdf

How are we helping?

We support the human rights of Fisheries Observers.

We are partnering with the Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS) to pilot a research project that captures must needed data on the experiences of fisheries observers.

We are working with Global Fishing Watch and the Blue Marine Foundation to develop new technological and AI driven ways to detect IUU fishing, allowing for smarter deployment of Fisheries Observers.

We also work with individual Fisheries Observers and their families to support them to obtain justice when their human rights have been violated.