Chinese Vessels Accused of Exploiting North Korean Crew in Indian Ocean

A report by the Environmental Justice Foundation accuses Chinese tuna fishing vessels of using North Korean workers, violating UN sanctions. The crews suffered abuses and forced labor, often remaining at sea for years. The report highlights illegal fishing and rights abuses affecting global supply chains.

In a startling revelation, Chinese tuna fishing vessels operating in the Indian Ocean are alleged to have used North Korean crew members between 2019 and 2024, defying United Nations sanctions, according to a report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF).

Interviews with 19 Indonesian and Filipino crew members reveal severe rights abuses on these vessels, with reports of workers trapped at sea for extended periods, subjected to illegal fishing practices, and even the killing of dolphins. North Korean labor is believed to be abundant in China, hosting about 100,000 workers, despite international labor restrictions.

The London-based EJF report also alleges that captains of at least 12 Chinese-flagged longliners in the southwest Indian Ocean concealed North Korean workers either by hiding them at ports or transferring them to sister vessels. Testimonies from crew members reveal some North Koreans remained at sea for up to a decade, denied phone usage, and withheld from port visits.