Films
Out of Sight, Out of Control: The global boom in destructive squid fishing
EJF’s latest investigation into unregulated squid fishing on the high seas has uncovered illegal fishing and human rights abuses on a shocking scale. Every year, hundreds of industrial fishing vessels disappear into some of the most remote and unregulated waters on earth, where they fish for squid beyond the reach of any law, any observer, and any accountability. Over the last 5 years, EJF investigators have gathered testimony and footage from over 400 crew members who have worked on board distant water squid vessels. What they have documented is a system built on environmental destruction and forced labour. Rampant overfishing, the killing of protected species, and widespread human rights violations are endemic across the global squid industry.
Out of Sight, Out of Control: The global boom in destructive squid fishing
EJF’s latest investigation into unregulated squid fishing on the high seas has uncovered illegal fishing and human rights abuses on a shocking scale.
Every year, hundreds of industrial fishing vessels disappear into some of the most remote and unregulated waters on earth, where they fish for squid beyond the reach of any law, any observer, and any accountability.
Over the last 5 years, EJF investigators have gathered testimony and footage from over 400 crew members who have worked on board distant water squid vessels. What they have documented is a system built on environmental destruction and forced labour. Rampant overfishing, the killing of protected species, and widespread human rights violations are endemic across the global squid industry.
Walls of Death: Illegal Driftnetting in the Mediterranean
Among the most destructive fishing methods ever used, driftnets have been banned in the Mediterranean for decades - but EJF's latest investigation reveals they never really went away.
Discarded: Hidden Overfishing in the EU
In European waters, fish are caught and dumped at sea to make room for more valuable catch. This practice, known as highgrading, is illegal, but unfortunately most cases go unreported.
This extremely wasteful and unsustainable practice puts pressure on struggling ecosystems and harms honest fishers’ livelihoods. Transparency is the key to protecting these ecosystems and ending this widespread illegal practice.
The High Seas: A Global Deal to Protect Our Oceans
The UN High Seas Treaty has entered into force, and we celebrate this exciting moment for ocean protection. It is evidence that a rules-based order can still deliver in the face of escalating environmental breakdown.
Before You Board: The Hidden Risks of Distant Water Fishing
Every year, thousands of Indonesians work as fishers on foreign boats, promised high wages for work abroad. However, the reality of life at sea can be very different from what is promised. Once onboard, fishers are routinely overworked, abused, and exploited.
Are you thinking of taking a job on a distant water fishing vessel? Watch out for these warning signs:
🚩 The recruitment agency doesn't have a valid licence or has a bad reputation. A company's SIUKAK/SIUPPAK permit can be found on the official Ministry of Transportation website, while its SIP3MI permit can be checked on the Ministry of KP2MI website.
🚩 The recruitment agency offers loans
Loans through banks or cash advances from companies are often used to pressure crew into accepting low salaries or prevent them from terminating their employment contracts.
🚩 Lack of transparency about salary
The recruitment agency receives crew's salary in advance before transferring it to their personal account. This creates an opportunity for companies to illegally "take a share" of crew's salary.
🚩 Retention of identity documents
Confiscation of passports, ID cards, family cards, and other personal documents controls migrant workers' movements while working.
🚩 Offered work on Chinese-flagged ships
Several human rights organisations have documented various human rights violations and allegations of forced labor against Indonesian migrant workers on Chinese-flagged ships.
(The footage used is illustrative and does not necessarily show the boats discussed by the fishers.)
The Forests of Life: How Mangroves Sustain Ghana's Fisheries, Coastline, and Climate – an EJF film
Mangroves sustain communities, shield coasts, and store vast amounts of carbon. In Ghana they are vanishing fast – but their protection is within reach through safeguarding, restoration, and community leadership.
In partnership with Hen Mpoano, watch our short documentary, which reveals how local action and stronger policy can revive these vital ecosystems.
Together we are strong: Liberia's fishmongers building fairer fisheries
Communities for Fisheries: The lasting impact – an EJF film
Net loss: the urgent need for reform in Cameroon's fisheries
This film lays bare the impacts of illegal fishing on Cameroonian coastal communities, highlighting widespread lawbreaking, human rights abuses, and the urgent need for fisheries transparency.
Reports
OUT OF SIGHT, OUT OF CONTROL: The global boom in destructive squid fishing
The Environmental Justice Foundation's new global report exposes what happens aboard distant-water squid vessels operating beyond any oversight, forced labour, physical violence, and deaths at sea across fisheries that supply 60% of the world's squid. The European Union is the world's largest squid importer. What happens out of sight has consequences here.
The Environmental Justice Foundation's new global report exposes what happens aboard distant-water squid vessels operating beyond any oversight, forced labour, physical violence, and deaths at sea across fisheries that supply 60% of the world's squid.
The European Union is the world's largest squid importer. What happens out of sight has consequences here.
눈에서 멀어지면 규제도 멀어진다: 파괴적 오징어 어업의 전세계적 급증: 본 환경정의재단(EJF)의 글로벌 보고서는 전 세계 오징어의 60%를 공급하는 원양 오징어 선단이 규제 사각지대에서 조업하며 일어나는 강제 노동, 물리적 폭행, 선내 사망과 같은 이슈들의 실태를 고발한다. 한국은 세계적으로 손꼽히는 규모의 원양 오징어 선단을 보유하고 있으며, 최근 몇 년간 수입 오징어 의존도 또한 급격히 높아지고 있다. 기국으로서, 그리고 수입국으로서 한국은 이러한 규제 사각지대의 문제와 결코 무관하지 않다.
LOIN DES REGARDS, LOIN DE TOUT CONTRÔLE: Comment la pêche non réglementée au calmar alimente le travail forcé et les pratiques destructrices en mer: Le nouveau rapport mondial de l'Environmental Justice Foundation dévoile ce qui se passe à bord des navires de pêche au calmar en haute mer, qui opèrent en dehors de tout contrôle : travail forcé, violences physiques et décès en mer dans des pêcheries qui fournissent 60 % du calmar mondial. L'Union européenne est le premier importateur mondial de calmar. Ce qui se passe loin de nos regards a des conséquences ici.
Le nouveau rapport mondial de l'Environmental Justice Foundation dévoile ce qui se passe à bord des navires de pêche au calmar en haute mer, qui opèrent en dehors de tout contrôle : travail forcé, violences physiques et décès en mer dans des pêcheries qui fournissent 60 % du calmar mondial.
L'Union européenne est le premier importateur mondial de calmar. Ce qui se passe loin de nos regards a des conséquences ici.
OJOS QUE NO VEN, CONTROL QUE NO SE EJERCE: El auge mundial de la pesca destructiva de calamar: El nuevo informe mundial de la Fundación para la Justicia Ambiental pone al descubierto lo que ocurre a bordo de los buques de pesca de calamar de alta mar que operan sin ningún tipo de supervisión: trabajo forzoso, violencia física y muertes en el mar en las pesquerías que suministran el 60 % del calamar mundial. La Unión Europea es el mayor importador de calamar del mundo. Lo que ocurre fuera de nuestra vista tiene consecuencias aquí.
El nuevo informe mundial de la Fundación para la Justicia Ambiental pone al descubierto lo que ocurre a bordo de los buques de pesca de calamar de alta mar que operan sin ningún tipo de supervisión: trabajo forzoso, violencia física y muertes en el mar en las pesquerías que suministran el 60 % del calamar mundial.
La Unión Europea es el mayor importador de calamar del mundo. Lo que ocurre fuera de nuestra vista tiene consecuencias aquí.
The European Ocean Act: Securing Europe’s Ocean Future: Europe’s future security, competitiveness and resilience will be decided at sea. This implementation gap is becoming a strategic vulnerability for Europe, weakening fisheries productivity, offshore infrastructure, maritime supply chains and coastal stability. The European Ocean Act is an opportunity to move from commitments to delivery, ensuring 100% of EU waters are managed sustainably within ecological limits. This policy briefing lays out two strategic imperatives for the Ocean Act.
Europe’s future security, competitiveness and resilience will be decided at sea. This implementation gap is becoming a strategic vulnerability for Europe, weakening fisheries productivity, offshore infrastructure, maritime supply chains and coastal stability. The European Ocean Act is an opportunity to move from commitments to delivery, ensuring 100% of EU waters are managed sustainably within ecological limits. This short briefing lays out two strategic imperatives for the Ocean Act.
The European Ocean Act: Turning Ocean Governance into Delivery: The European Ocean Act represents a critical opportunity to move from fragmented commitments to implementation and measurable delivery, while creating a more coherent and effective framework for EU ocean governance. However, it should not become a deregulatory vehicle for weakening environmental protections. This policy briefing lays out our recommendations for the Ocean Act, to ensure it builds Europe's economic security, maritime resilience and strategic autonomy.
The European Ocean Act represents a critical opportunity to move from fragmented commitments to implementation and measurable delivery, while creating a more coherent and effective framework for EU ocean governance. However, it should not become a deregulatory vehicle for weakening environmental protections. This policy briefing lays out our recommendations for the Ocean Act, which must be implemented ensure it builds Europe's economic security, maritime resilience and strategic autonomy.
Right to Reduce: Toxic-free reuse and reduction-enabling systems as real solutions to plastic pollution: The "Right to Reduce" is a concept created by the Environmental Justice Foundation. This policy white paper asserts that the ability to reduce consumption of plastics and materials is a human right. It shows that today, individuals are systematically denied the right to reduce due to the dominance of plastics in everyday life, leaving people with little meaningful ability to avoid plastic consumption. This right to reduce is guaranteed by establishing toxic-free reduction-enabling systems, challenging the current system of plastic overproduction and overconsumption, and rejecting false solutions.
The "Right to Reduce" is a concept created by the Environmental Justice Foundation. This policy white paper asserts that the ability to reduce consumption of plastics and materials is a human right. It shows that today, individuals are systematically denied the right to reduce due to the dominance of plastics in everyday life, leaving people with little meaningful ability to avoid plastic consumption.
This right to reduce is guaranteed by establishing toxic-free reduction-enabling systems, challenging the current system of plastic overproduction and overconsumption, and rejecting false solutions.