The Social Partners of the European sea fishing sector have consistently highlighted the importance of addressing the social dimension in fisheries. Fishing remains a demanding profession, and its social aspects must be adequately tackled by legislators to make jobs in the sector safer and more appealing to younger generations and women.

Through this project, the Social Partners aim to strengthen the social dimension of fisheries by focusing on occupational health and safety on board, monitoring the implementation of the United Nations specialized agency International Labour Organization “Work in Fishing” Convention (C188) and the corresponding EU Directive 2017/159, and conducting a qualitative assessment of the factors contributing to the sector’s low attractiveness for young workers and women.

Specifically, the project is structured around three pillars:

Pillar 1: Development of Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines, to be submitted to the ILO in the context of the work related to the “Work in Fishing” Convention (C188).

Pillar 2: Conducting qualitative research through interviews in various Member States to explore the reasons why young workers and women are discouraged from entering the fisheries sector, with a focus on barriers to attractiveness, good practices, and required skills.

Pillar 3: Drafting a proposal for an EU Directive to support the control and enforcement of ILO C188. This includes mapping the ratification and implementation of C188 and Directive 2017/159 across Member States, identifying gaps and discrepancies, and preparing a draft text for a potential Directive.

Pillar 1: Development of Occupational Health and Safety Guidelines, to be submitted to the ILO in the context of the work related to the “Work in Fishing” Convention (C188).

The International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention C188 — the Work in Fishing Convention — was adopted on 14 June 2007 and entered into force on 16 November 2017.

The ILO C188 has the objective to ensure that fishers have decent conditions of work on board fishing vessels with regard to minimum requirements for work on board, conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security. Following the Sea Fisheries Social Partners’ agreement signed on 21 May 2012, a major part of the Convention was transposed into EU legislation with Directive 2017/159.

The ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188) is a cornerstone for the protection of fishers worldwide, establishing legally binding minimum standards on occupational safety, conditions of work, and living arrangements on board fishing vessels. Several key EU Member States have ratified the Convention, and the number of global ratifications continues to grow. However, fishing remains one of the most hazardous professions, and there is extensive global evidence of labour abuses, unsafe practices, and poor working and living conditions in the sector. In this context, C188 remains the international reference point for improving the lives of fishers with minimum labour standards.

In June 2022, the International Labour Conference of the ILO recognized a safe and healthy working environment as a fundamental principle and right at work. As part of this landmark decision, the ILO designated the Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155) and the Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 2006 (No. 187) as fundamental Conventions. This designation imposes an obligation on all ILO Member States to promote and realize the principles underpinning this right, in consultation with social partners.

In the fishing industry, the development of a strong safety culture among fishers must be a top priority. Such a culture demands a holistic approach, integrating occupational safety and health with broader social and labour conditions. As part of the ILO’s follow-up to the 2007 Resolution on the promotion of welfare for fishers, a Tripartite Meeting on Issues Relating to Migrant Fishers was convened by the ILO Sectoral Department in September 2017. The meeting produced a resolution calling on the ILO and its Member States to develop, adopt, and implement guidelines – in consultation with social partners at the national, regional, and international levels – for the effective application of occupational safety, health, and accident prevention measures under Convention No. 188. Among its recommendations, the development of these OSH implementation guidelines remains the final outstanding item from the 2017 resolution, a gap that must now be addressed.

The development of this pillar will need to take into account the existing Guidelines for implementing the occupational safety and health provisions of the Maritime Labour Convention.

This pillar has the objective to fill this important loophole and develop – with the help of a consultant expert in OSH – such guidelines. The objective is to draft a document that is fully compatible with the language and standards of ILO, in order to be submitted directly to the ILO, which could take this deliverable in consideration for its internal processes and potential global adoption. Building on the strong, longstanding collaboration between the European Social Partners and the ILO, established through previous successful joint work, this initiative benefits from established trust and expertise. This positions the EU-developed guidelines to serve as a global benchmark within the ILO framework, as has been achieved with earlier Social Partner contributions.

Pillar 2: qualitative research through interviews in various Member States to explore the reasons why young workers and women are discouraged from entering the fisheries sector, with a focus on barriers to attractiveness, good practices, and required skills.

In recent years, the fisheries sector has struggled to attract young workers and women. While the situation varies across regions and fleet segments, there is a clear and consistent decline in the sector’s appeal. Traditionally rooted in coastal communities and passed down through generations, the profession is now facing a disconnect with younger generations and women. This trend has significant consequences: it reduces economic and employment opportunities in coastal areas, decreases domestic production of fish products in the EU, increases reliance on imports and increases the number of migrant fishers employed in the EU fleet.

The Sea Fisheries Social Partners have repeatedly expressed concern over this development, stressing the need for policy intervention. The underlying causes of the sector’s declining appeal are multifaceted, ranging from the inherently demanding nature of the job to factors that could be addressed through legislative measures to improve how the sector is perceived as a viable and attractive career option for young people and women.

Currently, more than 70% of seafood consumed in the EU is imported. In some regions, the continued existence of the fisheries sector is under serious threat, with the declining interest from young workers posing a long-term risk to its socio-economic sustainability.

Through this project, the Social Partners, supported by a consultant, aim to conduct qualitative research in selected Member States to identify the key reasons discouraging young people and women from pursuing careers in fisheries. By engaging directly with active fishers, retired fishers, and young individuals and women who have chosen either to enter or avoid the profession, the research will provide valuable insights into how perceptions of the sector have evolved. The resulting report will support stakeholders and policymakers in identifying priority areas for action and in designing effective policies to reverse the current trend and restore the attractiveness of the fisheries sector for the current and next generations.

Pillar 3: Drafting a proposal for an EU Directive to support the control and enforcement of ILO C188. This includes mapping the ratification and implementation of C188 and Directive 2017/159 across Member States, identifying gaps and discrepancies, and preparing a draft text for a potential Directive.

The critical need for enhanced control and enforcement mechanisms was highlighted during the European Social Partners’ webinar on ILO C188 held on 20 November 2020, organised in collaboration with the ILO, the European Commission, and key fishing nations. The event, attended by over 200 participants worldwide, underscored strong political and stakeholder support for advancing ratification and implementation of C188 and its EU equivalent. Governmental and sector representatives shared valuable lessons and challenges, demonstrating the urgent necessity of coordinated and robust enforcement at the EU level to protect fishers’ rights and working conditions. Building on this momentum, Pillar 3 will translate these insights into concrete legislative proposals to ensure the effective application of social standards throughout the EU fishing fleet.

Following the Social Partners Agreement signed in 2012, the EU transposed a significant portion of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (C188) into EU law through Directive 2017/159. This was a crucial milestone in safeguarding minimum safety and employment standards for fishers and in promoting C188 as a global benchmark for the protection of fishers’ rights.

Although Directive 2017/159 has entered into force across all EU Member States, the Sea Fisheries Social Partners have repeatedly emphasized that control and enforcement mechanisms are lacking.

The objective of this project is to prepare – together with the support of a consultant – a draft EU Directive aimed at strengthening the control and enforcement of the ILO C188 provisions within the EU fleet. This new legal instrument would help ensure better protection for fishers, harmonise enforcement of minimum standards across Member States, and promote these standards globally, leveraging the EU’s influence as a major actor in the global fisheries sector and market.

Crucially, the effective ratification, implementation, and enforcement of C188 standards is now also strategically aligned with recent EU legislation, particularly the EU Forced Labour Regulation. This regulation will prohibit products made with forced labour, including seafood, from being placed on the EU market. The fisheries sector, often flagged as high-risk in global labour assessments, must therefore demonstrate robust compliance with labour rights and decent work standards to ensure continued access to EU and global markets. In this evolving legal landscape, strengthening enforcement of C188 and Directive 2017/159 is not only vital to protect workers, but also essential for the sector’s reputation, competitiveness, and long-term sustainability within a fair and ethical Blue Economy.The draft Directive developed with this project will be submitted to policymakers for consideration as a foundation for a much-needed legislative initiative to ensure full and consistent implementation of Directive 2017/159 throughout the EU.

The project contributes directly to the implementation of the Joint Work Programme of the Social Partners within the European Sea Fisheries Social Dialogue Committee, reinforcing the core principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights, particularly on:

• Tackling labour shortages and enabling skills development;
• Supporting youth employment, female participation, and job quality;
• Facilitating intra-EU labour mobility and social inclusion;
• Promoting decent working conditions through enhanced health and safety standards.

With the financial support of the European Union