Japan for processing and then exported to the US—a significant market.
Father Guntur and his colleagues went to Boston, where they held a
peaceful demonstration outside North America’s largest seafood expo.
This led to a meeting with Thea Lee, Deputy Undersecretary for
International Affairs at the US Department of Labor, to advocate for
including fishers’ labor rights and Wi-Fi access in the ongoing US-Taiwan
Initiative on 21st Century Trade. Later, they met with Washington officials,
including the head of the State Department’s trafficking report. “I stressed
to them that everyone shares responsibility for this issue. When you enjoy
seafood, whether you like it or not, you should think of the fishers working
tirelessly to bring it to you and not allow them to remain isolated at sea for
extended periods,” said Father Guntur.
ii. Would Wi-Fi Access Adversely Impact Fishers'
Emotional Well-Being?
Father Guntur believes having Wi-Fi on board—even if limited to text
messaging—would benefit the offshore fishing industry and its workers.
However, local industry stakeholders have maintained cautious attitudes
toward widespread Wi-Fi access. A common concern within the industry
is, “While we are all pursuing human rights, can we spare a moment to
consider this from another angle? Can the impact of these human rights
efforts be truly sustainable if the industry itself cannot survive? 5
On April 16, 2024, the Fisheries Agency held the “2024 International
Forum on Fisheries and Human Rights—Challenges in Implementing the
ILO Work in Fishing Convention.” Chen Huang-cheng, President of
Taiwan’s Squid & Saury Fisheries Association (TSSFA), highlighted the
critical nature of fishers’ rights to communication during the forum. Chen
quoted a line from Taiwanese poet Yu Kwang-chung, “Nostalgia was a tiny
Lo, Yi-Ning (January 6, 2023). “Exploring Sustainable Fisheries Management from the
Perspective of Fisheries Operators and Recruitment,” panel presentation.
5
12