From restaurants to family kitchens, on every corner of the planet,
fish is a staple that feeds and nourishes millions of people every day.
It's one of the world's most valuable and most sought after resources.
But the men and women who earn their livelihoods from the sea
know that getting fish to the market is rewarding
but often quite challenging work.
"We do six-hour shifts... if you have a problem,
but you don't want to disturb a shipmate who is sleeping,
there is always a sailor, on call, who stays awake......
here we're like a family."
"It's a good job on the boat.
I've worked for four years and everything has been fine for me."
Nearly 55 million people around the world work in the fishing industry;
nearly 40 million work on board fishing vessels,
working inland waters or at sea.
There is incredible diversity in the size and types of fishing vessels in the industry.
From very large deep-sea vessels, to coastal vessels to very small boats.
However, most of the world's fishing vessels are small, less than 24 meters long.
But no matter what the size of their vessel, their nationality
or in which waters they fish, the world's fishermen,
or 'fishers' as they are known, have a lot of things in common, at work.
"We have to be careful when we are walking on the boat because it's slippery."
"We have to be careful when we are working
and make sure no one's leg is stuck in the net.
Otherwise when we throw the nets someone can drown."
"At sea the work is really hard.
It's very dangerous and you need to be careful."
Fishing is a demanding and often hazardous way to earn a living.
The hours are long.
The marine environment is hard on everyone.
Potentially dangerous machinery is everywhere, and with it
the threat of serious injury, even death.
"There are always small and big accidents on board.
We have had them on this boat.
In fact we lost a friend... that's life!"
And a fisher's life can be isolated.
Many fishers spend long periods at sea, away from home and family.
"Sometimes when I talk to my friends I tell them I miss my home.
I want to go back. I miss my mum and dad."
Beyond the day to day demands of the job,
some of the world's fishers experience unpaid wages,
unsanitary conditions, dangerous working environments
and unsafe vessels.
Forced, and even child labour are unfortunate realities
in some of the world's fisheries today.
Globalization and new technologies have increased the demands on fishers,
and in some cases have increased the risks on board.
The changes in the fishing industry
have created a need for standards that apply worldwide,
standards that recognize the unique nature of the fishing sector
while ensuring fishers have protection
at least equivalent to people working in other occupations.
In 2007, at the 96th International Labour Conference,
the ILO responded by adopting
the Work in Fishing Convention number 188,
designed to ensure that the world's commercial fishers
have decent working conditions on board fishing vessels.
The Convention spells out specific minimum requirements
for work on board, conditions of service, accommodation and food,
occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security.
For example, it provides that fishers should have a clear agreement setting out
not only their responsibilities but those of the fishing vessel owners.
The Convention also calls for the inspection of fishing vessels.
In Spain, a maritime inspector, a labour inspector and a doctor
have boarded a fishing vessel in port.
Their inspection is a joint initiative
led by the Ministry of Public Works and Transport
and the Ministry of Employment and Social Security.
Fishing vessel owners say inspections like this one make vessels safer
and better places to work.
"Labour inspections are good both for the crew and for the company.
If an accident happens there are consequences
not only for the victim but for the employers as well.
Labour inspections benefit us.
We care that our vessels are respecting safety standards."
The labour inspector checks not only where the crew works,
but where they sleep, eat and relax.
The inspector checks where the food is prepared and where it is stored.
The medical stores. Documentation for the crew.
Everything to do with a fisher's living and working conditions on board.
"Today in terms of safety, I think everything is covered.
We have a system for evacuation of the ship, fire safety procedures;
everyone has their own life vest and helmet.
I think how we are handling safety is good."
For many of the owners of Spain's fishing vessels,
there is a clear need for the workplace standards set out in Convention 188,
not only locally, but around the world.
"We can use this Convention to reach our goal which is, to encourage
those countries who lag behind in implementing social and labour rights
to get on board with us so that they can join the trend
of improving the safety and working conditions on board vessels.
It's essential!"
Workers' organizations agree.
Luz Baz Abella is an inspector
for the International Transport Workers' Federation.
"Convention 188 is necessary
because sustainable fishing has to go hand in hand with humane fishing.
We talk a lot about environmental rights,
but don't forget there are human beings on board those vessels."
More than 8 out of 10 of the world's fishers are in Asia.
The fundamentals behind Convention 188
are strongly supported by the owners of Thailand's fishing vessels.
"It is necessary to follow this because we can't afford to fish
without rules or regulations anymore.
When we comply with Convention 188, it improves our fisheries in a positive way,
and that helps improve the international standard of our fishing industry."
The standards set out in the Convention can be a distinct advantage for vessel owners,
to attract new recruits and retain old hands.
The safety and health provisions could cut costs
since fewer injuries will increase productivity.
The Convention also gives national governments a reference point
for the drafting and developing of national legislation and policies on commercial fishing.
"ILO Convention 188 on working fishing
is a very useful point for setting standards on working fishing.
It's been useful in our discussions with the Thai government
and Thai industry in revising the ministerial regulations
on working fishing, and in drafting a code of conduct
and developing good labor practice guidelines."
The fishers themselves recognize that standards are not only important,
but necessary in a globalized world.
"I think it's a good idea to have a system,
for someone to take responsibility for everything when we work."
The convention is also a valuable tool to prevent or address
some of the most unacceptable forms of work,
such as the use of forced labour and child labour.
While Convention 188 is firm on principles,
there is flexibility in the implementation
to take into account the global diversity of fishing operations
and the capacities of individual countries.
A global industry requires a global standard.
Convention 188 is a landmark in the fishing sector.
It will change the lives of fishers everywhere,
guaranteeing a safer and decent workplace for the millions of people
who provide a vital source of the world's food.
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANIZATION (ILO) 2013