Indonesian crew from a Chinese tuna longliner have provided harrowing accounts of the deaths of four crewmates who were denied medical care. The crew also reported other serious human rights abuses such as physical violence and 18 hour working days and rampant illegal fishing. The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and the Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) are calling for an immediate investigation into the fleet of vessels, which continue to operate in the Western Pacific Ocean.

The four men all started work on the vessel Long Xing 629 in early 2019. The first fisherman died on 21 December, and a second died days later after being transferred to the sister vessel Long Xing 802. In late March, all of the fishermen were transferred to two further sister vessels for transit to Busan, South Korea. A third fisherman died on the Tian Yu 8 en route. The fourth fisherman died after arriving in Korea.

Survivors from the vessel report that the victims all suffered from swelling, chest pain, and breathing difficulties for weeks. Vessel captains reportedly refused to go to port to access appropriate medical care. Crew have connected the deaths to the poor quality of water provided on the vessels, however no autopsies were conducted.

The three crewmembers who died on their vessels were quickly buried at sea on the same day they died, despite the contract requiring vessel owners to repatriate bodies. The fourth crewmember died while in quarantine after arriving in Korea. He also did not receive medical care despite complaining of the same symptoms for two months. No autopsies were conducted in any of the cases, though the victim who died in Korea was tested and found not to have Covid-19.

Human rights abuses

Physical violence was committed by senior Chinese crewmembers against at least two Indonesian workers. They were made to work for 18 hours a day, and in some cases two days continuously without rest. The vessels remained at sea for over a year without calling at port. Indonesian crew reported that they were made to drink salty drinking water, while Chinese crew were given clean bottled water.

These reports came from Indonesian crewmembers originally from Long Xing 629 now in Korea, where they were interviewed by lawyers from APIL. These interviews were combined with evidence from analysis of contracts and other documents.

According to their contracts, most of the crew had agreed to work for a monthly salary of US$ 300. Instead, many were paid barely more than a dollar a day (US$ 42 per month), and even this paltry wage was subject to further deductions including recruitment fees and security deposits, meaning some were ultimately paid less than US$ 300 for the entire year. The first three months of wages were withheld to pay deductions. In addition to violating their employment contracts, these payment practices are indicators of forced labour. The passports of all crew members were reportedly confiscated by the captain of at least one vessel when crew embarked at the start of their contract.

Illegal fishing

The crew from the Long Xing 629 also reported industrial-scale illegal fishing, and provided photographs and film showing shark finning of suspected critically endangered species. Despite the vessels being registered as ‘tuna longliners’, the workers stated that they targeted sharks using specific fishing gear with which they caught more than 20 animals a day, mounting to at least 16 boxes full of shark fins (each box weighing 45 kg) when they left the vessel. Though China does not have rules prohibiting shark finning, the practice is in violation of measures set by the regional body that manages the Western Central Pacific Ocean.

Photographs provided by the crew suggest that some of the sharks finned were endangered and critically endangered, including Hammerhead sharks and Oceanic White Tips. Crew report that shark fins were boxed and trans-shipped between vessels to be brought to port for sale.

Urgent action required

APIL and EJF are calling for an urgent investigation by Chinese and international authorities into the conduct of this fleet of vessels. These should consider the circumstances of the four deaths, other human rights abuses and compliance with national and international laws and regulations.

In addition, the cases serve as graphic reminder of the need for fundamental reforms to global fisheries regulations, in particular making the sector more transparent so that regulators, industry and the public can scrutinize the activities of vessels.

APIL’s Attorney JongChul Kim said: “The severe labour exploitation we witness in this case is only the tip of the iceberg. We must understand the structural and contractual mechanisms that prevents these people from leaving their job and forces them to work, even when they face extremely serious illnesses and gross human rights abuses. It constitutes human trafficking and forced labor. This is a textbook example of human trafficking that is closely related to illegal fishing”

This shocking case is another urgent reminder that change is needed in the global seafood sector. In an effort to maintain profits amid declining fish populations, unscrupulous operators are resorting to human rights abuses and decline crew basic medical care. These are possible because large parts of the global fishing industry operate in the shadows, away from government and public scrutiny. We need a radical move toward transparency in fisheries, for the sake not only of the marine ecosystems but also the people who depend on the ocean for food and livelihoods.