The informalisation of precarious work in fishing crew: Experiences of Fijian fishers on distant water vessels

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of local fishing crew in Pacific Island states who join distant water fishing vessels, drawing on Fijian fishers as a case study for our discussion. Locally recruited and deployed fishers often face precarious labour conditions on fishing vessels and we discuss their vulnerability using three registers of precarious work: unsafe and exploitative working conditions, wage theft, and the lack of mechanisms for compensation after exiting their work on board the vessels. The experiences of many such crew fit internationally accepted criteria for forced labour. We contest the current characterisation of forced labour on distant water fishing vessels as primarily a problem that applies to Southeast Asian migrants. In developing a greater understanding the experiences of Fijian fishing crew, we draw out how their mode of entry into distant water fishing crew work, and location as Pacific Island nationals recruited in port/ fleet states can contribute to their vulnerability to exploitation.