September 20, 2016 — More oversight and regulations are requested by outside groups and the industry itself.
After reports of slavery and unsafe working conditions, the industry takes steps to reel in problem boats and protect contract workers.
Unlike regular jobs, the fishing day ends when all the lines are back in, recovering broken lines, or hauling in completely full ones, making the long days even longer.
“Fishing is a brutal industry,” said Jim Cook, Hawaii Longline Association. “We have the highest fatality rate of anyone in the industry. We have working hours that the average person couldn’t come to grips with.”
After facing allegations of forced labor and poor working conditions on some boats, the Hawaii Longline Fishing Industry hopes to set standards for all crews to follow, including inspections of boats, questionnaires of workers to make sure conditions are safe, and proper documents; that includes a standardized crew contract.
If not come October 1st, they won’t be allowed to sell their catch at the Honolulu Fish Auction.
“We want you to show us your crew contracts, your I-95 & passports, prior to unloading, and if you don’t – you don’t get to unload,” said Cook.
The changes won’t shorten the long hours of fishing or hard work involved, but will make set standards for the industry.
“If there are outliers out there in this community, bad actors, we’re going to discover them. We’re going to find them,” said Cook.