Our investigation refers to a
US Treasury Department report that documents how, in 2019, a vessel went to sea with a crew of 24 in the Pacific Ocean. While licensed for tuna fishing, the vessel engaged in illegal shark finning, taking more than 700kg of fins, including from endangered species.
After 13 months at sea without a port visit, the crew faced dire conditions, including 18-hour work days and being fed on out-of-date food and brown desalinated water. Five crew members were reported dead, and three of their bodies were dumped at sea. On return, the surviving crew were malnourished and paid just a fraction of the promised wages. They also reported deceptive recruiting and confiscated documents. The investigation found similar abuses across the fleet, including physical assault, malnutrition, withheld pay and five more deaths. Despite these violations, the company received US$8 million (£6.3 million) annually in fishing subsidies from China.