Indonesia Nabs Ship Believed to Carry Slave-Caught Fish

It’s a challenge for national governments to monitor activities of fishing vessels operating in open stretches of the ocean commons. “A massive refrigerated cargo ship believed to be loaded with slave-caught fish was seized by Indonesia's navy and brought to shore Thursday, after The Associated Press informed authorities it had entered the country's waters,” reports Margie Mason for the global news organization. “The AP used a satellite beacon signal to trace its path from Papua New Guinea waters, where it was also being sought, into neighboring Indonesia. The navy then spent a week trying to catch it.” In open waters, the desperate workers who make up fishing crews have little recourse against abuse, low wages, unsafe conditions and other illegal activities. Mason reports some men were kept in cages. Slave labor reduces costs. The slave-caught fish head to major grocery and pet-food chains in the United States that promise savings to consumers. – YaleGlobal