How Indonesia is freeing the fishing slaves  

Indonesia showcased its efforts to unshackle Southeast Asia from the shame of modern-day slavery a fortnight ago, at the International Conference on Human Rights Protection in the Fishery Industry. 
The horrific reality of the trade was laid bare two years ago by an Associated Press investigation that discovered gruesome evidence including mass graves on the Indonesian islands of Benjina and Ambon. 
At the Jakarta conference, Maritime and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti unveiled the vision behind the new regulations introduced.

A battle with big business 
Given the complexities of slavery and other labour abuses, which are bound up with a multibillion-dollar fishing industry in Southeast Asia, the minister looked to experts for help in her battle. 
The first step was to regain control of the fisheries in Indonesia, which was accomplished through a moratorium and relicensing of vessels operating in its waters. That Indonesia would no longer tolerate illegal fishing was demonstrated in dramatic fashion by the impounding and scuttling of unlicensed fishing vessels caught in territorial waters. This was no mean feat, since Pudjiastuti and her ministry were confronting deeply entrenched business interests, with tentacles that reached far into government and the bureaucracy.
Yet Pudjiastuti’s strong resolve helped boost the morale of the ministry’s senior officials, who in turn convinced their staff of the urgent need for strong action. This laid the foundation for the shift in government mindset necessary to kick-start what has been dubbed a “revolution” in Indonesia’s fishing industry.  
Meanwhile a different approach was taken to protect the fishermen, with acknowledgement and emphasis of their humanity that had long gone neglected. The ministry was assisted here by the Foundation for International Human Rights Reporting Standards and the Belgian foreign ministry.

Revolutionary approach
But this was to prove a lengthy process, for while it is easy enough to proclaim fishermen’s rights should be respected, the practicalities of how this can be achieved are problematic. For a start, fishing is not a standard nine-to-five job, nor by its very nature is it free from physical hazards.
Then, of course, one has to ensure that measures do not threaten the livelihoods of fisherfolk who have largely been left behind by the nation’s economic progress. For while certification is necessary to ensure standards on larger fishing vessels, this must not come at the expense of smaller fishermen who have already suffered most from the ravages of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUUF).
The ministry was working without a template. No other nation in the world had ever introduced mandatory human rights certification as a prerequisite to obtaining a fisheries licence. In Indonesia, not only has the theoretical groundwork been laid but measures have been successfully demonstrated in field tests of the certification process conducted, fittingly, on a state-owned enterprise.
Praising his colleague for the revolutionary approach, Manpower Minister Hanif Dhakiri stated that it showed the commitment of the government to respect the human rights of all stakeholders in the fishing industry. However, he also acknowledged that not all companies had complied with rights principles and his and other ministries still had much work to do.
Yet much of this can be put down to ignorance, for the concept of human rights in fisheries is novel indeed. Moreover, being a traditional occupation largely passed on from one generation to the next, very little has been written on best practices or rules and regulations. Hence the need for a totally fresh mindset from top to bottom of the industry.
Commitment is now the key: it is essential that everyone from boat owner to deckhand, harbourmaster to dock police comes on board for this voyage to shape the future of Indonesia’s fishing industry. As with any “creative destruction” there will be casualties, of course. but few tears will be shed for the venal practices of the past that saw a few line their pockets while strangling the aspirations of the many. The mental revolution that Minister Susi is spearheading offers the chance to snap the chains to the bad old days and embark on a more equitable future.

Power of consumers
This is not just an exercise in morality. There is sound economic rationale for adopting these measures. Indonesia is a major exporter in a fishing industry where consumers are increasingly playing the role of ultimate regulator by voting with their wallets. While this is reflected in stricter governmental requirements on imports, governments only follow the demands of their citizens and there is a growing groundswell for fishery products that are not tainted by even a whiff of slavery. Would a product marked “certified human rights compliant” not attract premium prices?
Nor is there any reason that this should stop with the fishing industry in Indonesia. This should just be a start. For as Susi pointed out: “We’ve made it safe for your nationals operating in Indonesia waters. [Now] who is going to protect the rights of Indonesians working on fishing boats in your waters?”
Indonesia’s leadership is a mental revolution coming in with the tide. Let the resolve to protect fishing crews through mandatory human rights certification wash upon the shores of other maritime powers, and with the receding tide bring greater sustainability, equity and dignity to the high seas.