Beyond the catch: Advancing towards dignity and decent work for fishers and fish workers in the sector

Virtual Event, 21/11/2025

Fisheries and aquaculture provide livelihoods for millions worldwide and are crucial to the economies of coastal and rural areas. Yet, many fishers continue to face unsafe conditions, low wages, and limited access to social protection. Every year on 21 November, the world celebrates World Fisheries Day to recognize the crucial contribution of fishers and fish workers to food security, employment, and sustainable development. The day serves as a reminder of the urgent need to protect their human and labour rights, ensuring fair, safe, and dignified working conditions across the sector.

In celebration of World Fisheries Day 2025, FAO GLOBEFISH is organizing a virtual event titled “Beyond the Catch: Advancing towards Dignity and Decent Work for All in the Sector”. The event will highlight the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in promoting labour rights and ensuring decent work within the fisheries and aquaculture sector to foster dialogue on how stronger governance, enhanced social protection, and greater international cooperation can improve the livelihoods and resilience of fishers and fish workers worldwide.

Celebrating World Fisheries Day is a tribute to the work of fishers and fish workers, as well as a call to strengthen decent work, social dialogue, and sustainability in the sector. Their work must be valued and safeguarded through policies and partnerships that ensure fair, safe, and dignified employment, gender equality, and social justice for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture.

Programme

 12:00 -12:05 h Welcome remarks
 12:05 -12:15 h 

Presentation

by Christine Bader, Maritime Specialist, Sectoral Policies Department, ILO

 12:15 -12:45 h 

Roundtable

moderated by Daniela Kalikoski, FAO

Kirill Buketov,

International Policy Officer, Seafood Workers Division, IUF – International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Associations

Claudia Uribe,

CEIPA - Ecuadorian Chamber of Tuna Industrialists and Processors

Tim Hill,

CEO/National Director, Stella Maris UK

Audun Lem,

President of the technical scientific committee at Assoittica Italia

 12:45 - 12:55 h 

Q&A session

The audience is invited to pose questions and share experiences

Q&A session

The audience is invited to pose questions and share experiences
 12:55 - 13:00 h Closing remarks

Language

English

Contact

For more information about this event, please email us at [email protected] or [email protected]