Safety and medical care on board

Fishers · Know your rights

Your life is worth more than the catch.

What you should get

• Training on the fishing gear you will use and the work you will do (C188, Art. 31).
• A vessel that carries medical equipment and supplies, with at least one crew member trained in first aid (C188, Art. 29).
• A valid medical fitness check before you work — this protects you too (C188, Art. 10).
• From 1 January 2028, on vessels covered by CMM 2024-04: a safe working environment, safety training for all crew, and a record of your next-of-kin contact on board (paras. 7a and 8).
• If a crew member is seriously ill or injured, CMM 2024-04 requires the vessel to stop fishing as soon as practicable, give available care, tell the flag authority, and move the crew member to medical care where directed (para. 10).
• If a crew member is missing or falls overboard, the vessel must stop fishing, alert the rescue centre and search for at least 72 hours unless the person is found sooner (para. 11).

Check for

• Life jackets and safety gear you can reach
• Someone on board trained in first aid
• Your family's contact details are recorded by the vessel

What you can do

• Report every injury, even a small one, and ask for it to be written down.

Sources: ILO C188, Art. 10, 29, 31–33 (NORMLEX) · WCPFC CMM 2024-04, paras. 7–11

This card is general information, not legal advice. Laws differ by country and by the vessel's flag. Information checked 2 October 2026. For help, see piowr.org/fishers and piowr.org/tools/find-help.

Pacific Institute of Workplace Relations · Fair Conditions At Work · piowr.org