What is a fishing vessel?
A fishing vessel is a small boat or vessel used to catch underwater fish in a body of water. The types of vessels vary greatly, depending on the type of fish the fishermen on board are trying to catch, the amount of fish they hope to catch, and the distance they are traveling/the type of water they are in. Generally speaking, there are three types of vessels: commercial vessels, ships, and recreational vessels.
According to the latest data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) “State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2020” report, there are approximately 4.56 million fishing vessels in the world (as of 2018), and 38.98 million people are employed in the fishing industry.
What happens on a fishing vessel?
There are many types of fishing boats, from boats with only one person, a fishing rod, and fishing for a few hours to floating cities with thousands of crew members and out at sea for months at a time. Due to the diversity of fishing operations, each vessel is different, but most of the vessels are connected.
Fishing Vessel Workers: Production steps on a fishing vessel as defined by Oregon State University:
Deck Preparation
Fishing, trawling, and more—learn more about the different ways seafood is caught.
- Landing
- Drying
- Washing and freezing
- Add-ons: Processing
- Unloading
- Buying station
Staff/crew hygiene, cleaning and disinfection, minimizing fish handling, and implementing Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HAACP).
What is the importance of fishing vessels?
Fishing vessels catch approximately 50% of the global seafood supply, which is a primary source of protein for millions of people around the world. Without fishing vessels, we would not be able to catch species far from coastal areas. Cleaning and disinfecting vessels of all classes and minimizing fish handling should be prioritized.
Additionally, many large fishing vessels are equipped with technology to freeze seafood immediately after it is caught, providing the freshest seafood possible to the end consumer. In addition to their contribution to the global seafood supply chain, fishing vessels provide employment opportunities and much-needed support to these workers.
Fishing Vessels
For larger vessels that employ more people, the health of their employees and crew should be a top priority. Some vessels may remain at sea for weeks or even months. When employees work, eat, sleep, and live on board, their needs must be prioritized.
In the past, there have been cases of unacceptable working conditions on some vessels, with reports of slavery and servitude on vessels that sail for months. On this day, the Global Seafood Alliance adopts the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS), designed to prevent these horrific situations from happening. The RFVS standard ensures that vessels are operated humanely and ethically for all on board while at sea.
Seafood Authority Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard
The World Seafood Alliance’s Best Seafood Practices (BSP) program assures the market that wild seafood is caught and processed ethically, with the safety of all workers along the supply chain in mind.
The Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard (RFVS) is a voluntary program that certifies high standards of operational practices related to crew safety and welfare onboard commercial fishing vessels. The RFVS standard is an assurance tool that enables fisheries to demonstrate agreed-upon industry best practices from catch to landing through independent third-party audits.
The four pillars of responsible seafood form the foundation of the Seafood Authority’s certification program. These pillars guide the work of the Directorate General of Seafood and keep it sustainable. The RFVS standard primarily addresses the social responsibility pillar.
How does the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard address social responsibility?
Millions of fishing vessel workers deserve a safe and fair working environment. The RFVS promotes a culture of respect, safety, and integrity to ensure that all crew members receive good working conditions and fair pay. The system also ensures that crew members understand their rights and are respected and treated fairly by shipowners and captains. Social responsibility requirements in the RFVS system include:
- General policies, procedures, and management systems are in place to demonstrate compliance with international standards and protocols.
- Annual health and safety risk assessments covering all aspects of fishing operations both on land and at sea.
- Basic safety training for crew, accident, incident record requirements, and accident prevention programs.
- Medical certification requirements ensure that all crew members are fit for duty.
- Accurate and up-to-date crew and training records are maintained.
- A management system has been established to record and track the vessel’s catch.
- Sufficient medical equipment and medicines are on board to accommodate the number of crew members and the duration of the voyage.
- Special safety equipment is always available, operational, and properly maintained/repaired by the vessel owner.
- Living conditions and crew accommodation protect in the event of a collision or fire.
- The crew has well-ventilated, isolated, and separate resting areas.
- Sanitary and washing areas are kept clean and in good condition.
- Crew members have access to covert communication links, which mitigates the risk of isolation.
So what about the remaining three? What are the pillars of responsible fishing? How does the Responsible Fishing Standard address this?
While the RFVS focuses on social responsibility, it also includes requirements related to the two pillars of responsible fishing: environmental responsibility and food safety. The animal health and welfare pillar does not apply to the RFVS.
Environmental responsibility
Infographic on the environmental responsibility of fishing vessels. Vessel management systems and operational practices should include monitoring, evaluating, and controlling their practices to minimize their impact on the environment and non-target species. RFVS environmental responsibility requirements include:
- Comply with waste disposal and pollution control regulations.
- Protect and release species caught that are listed as endangered, threatened or protected (ETP).
- Provide documented environmental training for all crew members.
Food safety
Vessel operators must have systems and controls in place to reduce the risk of contamination of the catch with pathogens, spoilage organisms, foreign matter, chemicals, or allergens. Fisheries safety and food hygiene requirements under the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard include:
All areas used for processing or storage of catch have cleaning and disinfection procedures implemented.
The structural condition of vessels is assessed annually to identify areas that could pose a risk of physical, chemical, or biological contamination to the catch.
