Fishers and Plunderers

Abuses and slavery at sea are largely missing from narratives of work and environmental exploitation in the mainstream. This book shines a light on the exploitation of fish and fishers alike in a global industry driven by profits.Conservation and human rights in this industry are huge problems: with vast overprovision of vessels and shortages of fish, labour costs are targeted and young men are trafficked from poor areas onto vessels in virtual slavery. The resultant poverty and debt bonding pushes many towards trafficking drugs and piracy - although the criminality linked to the industry extends far beyond the level of the individual, vessel or fleet.Using first hand testimony and shocking examples of these abuses, the book uncovers these crimes and injustices, with the authors arguing for regulations which if implemented could protect the rights of fishers across the board.

Illuminates fishers' working lives at sea and odious conditions of employment, venturing beyond fishing into criminal activity and piracy.

List of Figures, Tables and PlatesList of Acronyms and AbbreviationsAcknowledgementsForeword by Deirdre Fitzpatrick1. IntroductionPart I: The Fishing Industry and the Race to Fish2. Fish, Gear and Boats3. The Risks of Working at Sea4. Nation States' Rights to Fish5. Employment and Poverty in Fishing Communities6. Destruction and Theft of Fish Stocks7. Laundering and Marketing Stolen FishPart II: The Plight of the Fishers8. Arrests of Fishers9. Getting a Crew by Dubious Contracting and Slave Trafficking10. Abuses and Slavery at Sea11. Escape from Hell12. Fishing Vessels and the Drugs Trade13. Piracy and Armed Robbery14. Conclusion: Problems and ProspectsNotesIndex