Statement made by: The International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF)
Made at: The Tripartite Meeting of Experts to Adopt Port State Control Measures for Implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) (Geneva, 15-19 February 2010)
- Thank you for the invitation to be represented as an observer at this Tripartite Meeting of Experts to adopt Port State Control Guidelines for Implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188). ICSF has actively been disseminating the provisions of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 through its publications, website and through organizing workshops. ICSF has published an ICSF Guidebook: Understanding the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 in ten international and local languages and has made it available on its website: www.icsf.net.
- ICSF supports the resolution concerning port State control and consider it a major innovation of ILO in its effort to ensure decent work for fishers. ICSF believes that uniform and harmonized implementation of port State responsibilities will contribute to the successful implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention. In this context, ICSF welcomes the proposal for Guidelines for port State control officers carrying out inspections under the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007, especially to protect rights of fishers as guaranteed under the Convention.
- ICSF is of the view that there should be sufficient flexibility is these guidelines to ensure that fishing vessels, to circumvent port State control measures, do not resort to offshore bunkering and mid-sea transfer of catch on the one hand, or to abandonment of both vessels and crew, on the other.
- ICSF would like to bring to the attention of this Meeting that some of the weaker port States are dependent on fish supply to their canneries from distant water fishing vessels of industrialized or advanced developing country flag States. Some of the developing country port States are also critically dependent on revenue from providing various services at their port to distant water fishing vessels of industrialized or advanced developing country flag States. The Guidelines should address how these port States can effectively cooperate in taking measures to rectify any conditions on board which are clearly hazardous to safety or health of fishers.
- ICSF wishes all success to this Meeting in adopting port State control guidelines for implementation of the Work in Fishing Convention, 2007.