The FASFA Fishing Fleet places the welfare, safety, and rights of all crew members at the highest level of priority.
Crew Welfare Standards
Fishing is one of the most challenging and hazardous occupations globally. The FASFA Fishing Fleet places the welfare, safety, and rights of all crew members at the highest level of priority. Their operations are guided by internationally recognised labour and transparency standards to ensure safe working conditions, fair treatment, and responsible fishing practices.
FASFA members are committed to aligning its policies and operations with the principles set out in standards such as the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188), the FISH Standard for Crew, the Norwegian Transparency Act, Sedex or the Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard.
Through these frameworks, FASFA members ensure that crew members work under conditions that respect human rights, provide fair employment terms, protect health and safety at sea, and promote transparency and accountability throughout the fishing supply chain.
Explanation of the Standards
1. ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188)
This is an international labour convention specifically for the fishing industry. It sets minimum global standards for fishers’ working conditions, including:
Fair employment agreements
Safe working environments on vessels
Proper accommodation and food
Medical care and rest periods
Protection against forced labour and exploitation
The FISH Standard was created to ensure ethical recruitment and fair treatment of fishing crew.
It focuses on:
Ethical recruitment (no recruitment fees)
Clear employment contracts
Access to grievance mechanisms
Transparency in wages and deductions
It helps seafood companies prove that crew are treated fairly throughout the supply chain.
This law requires companies connected to Norway to demonstrate transparency and human-rights due diligence in their supply chains.
Companies must:
Identify human rights risks
Take steps to prevent abuse or exploitation
Publicly report their due diligence
Respond to public requests about working conditions
For fishing companies, it means showing evidence that crews are treated responsibly.
4. Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard
This is a certification standard focused specifically on conditions on board fishing vessels.
It assesses:
Crew contracts and wages
Health and safety practices
Living conditions onboard
Freedom of movement and communication
Protection from forced labour and abuse
Vessels that meet the standard demonstrate responsible and ethical fishing operations.
5. Sedex (Supplier Ethical Data Exchange)
SEDEX is a date-sharing and auditing platform used by companies to manage and share information about ethics, labour, environmental, and safety standards in supply chains. For fishing vessels, SEDEX helps:
· Ensure ethical treatment of crew members
· Monitor working conditions at sea
· Promote environmental practices
· Promote business ethics and compliance with labour laws
These frameworks ensure that fishing vessels operate with safe conditions, fair pay, ethical recruitment, and transparency about how crew are treated.
Additional links available:
Ramoen - Åpenhetsloven / Transparensy Act
Leinebris - Leinebris AS |
JFK/Gadus Sustainability
Icelandic fleet GenericCertificate_NewLayout
Nor-Seafoods Seafood
Granit Sustainability – Halstensen – Bekkjarvik
Working and living conditions for seafarers - Norwegian Maritime Authority