At the conference the International Labour Organization (ILO) highlighted the transformative role of data in tackling fisheries crime. Developed with ILO technical support under the Blue Justice Initiative, Indonesia's first-ever Survey on Decent Work in Marine Fishing was implemented by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN).
It gathered insights from more than 3,400 fishers, providing robust evidence on working conditions, forced labour, and trafficking risks in marine fishing. These findings are already informing policy reforms, including commitments to strengthen inspections and expand protections for migrant fishers.
Reliable data is a game-changer in the fight against forced labour and trafficking at sea. The survey demonstrates how statistical tools can turn global commitments into concrete action. We now have a model that other countries can replicate to accelerate progress under the Copenhagen Declaration.
Francesca Francavilla, Senior Economist, ILO's Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work Branch (FUNDAMENTALS)
The event also introduced the Toolkit for Surveys on Decent Work in Marine Fishing, a comprehensive resource to help governments and partners measure key indicators aligned with international labour standards, including the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) and the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29). The toolkit includes questionnaires, an indicator framework and guidance to ensure comparability across countries.
© Blue Justice Conference 2025, Copenhagen, 2 December 2025.
A call for global action
ILO urged Copenhagen Declaration partners to scale up similar surveys, emphasizing that evidence-based approaches are essential to eliminate forced labour and trafficking in the fishing industry. Funding partners, including the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, reaffirmed their commitment to combating these abuses through regional hubs, digital tools and new surveys.
The Blue Justice Conference, co-hosted by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Norwegian Government, brought together leaders from 26 countries under the theme "United in Action Against Fisheries Crime." The ILO's contribution underscored the human dimension of fisheries crime and the need for integrated solutions linking labour rights, maritime security and sustainable ocean governance.
