New Technology Risks

Technological change is transforming fisheries through electronic monitoring, vessel tracking, automated equipment, digital reporting systems and data-driven management tools. While these developments can improve safety, traceability and sustainability, they also create new human rights risks if implemented without worker involvement. 

Digital technologies increase surveillance, reduce worker autonomy and intensify workloads where performance targets are driven primarily by productivity objectives. Automated systems alter job roles and skill requirements, creating uncertainty regarding employment security and training needs, and workers often have limited understanding of how data collected about them is used or how decisions are made. Technological change disproportionately affects migrant workers, older workers and those with limited access to training, and women and young workers face exclusion where implementation fails to address existing inequalities.

Tracking a vessel has never been easier, however a satellite cannot determine what is going on deck. But what tracking does reveal is time at sea: vessels that remain out for extended periods without port calls are higher risk, because their crews lack access to shore leave, port services or anyone outside the vessel. For a company assessing its seafood supply chain, that is a usable risk indicator.

For more on new technology risks, see the Risks Across Transport guidance.