Chinese state‑owned tuna trawler’s crew reports illness and death under 16‑hour shifts and minimal pay

A former crew member of the Chinese‑owned tuna longline vessel Tia Xiang 5, operated by the state‑controlled Shandong Zhonglu Oceanic Fisheries, has provided testimony that exposes a pattern of severe health deterioration, inadequate medical response, and ultimately three fatalities among a crew that was subjected to sixteen‑hour workdays while receiving a monthly wage of roughly 4.6 million Indonesian rupiah, an amount that translates to about £198.

According to the testimony, the first worker identified as Abdul, a 36‑year‑old who embarked on his initial longline assignment in February 2025, began experiencing swelling of the legs, bruising and crippling weakness within four months, yet was dismissed by fellow seamen as merely “weak” and “overreacting,” a characterization that compelled him to continue laboring despite being barely able to stand, a condition that was subsequently echoed by several other crew members who reported similar painful edema, shortness of breath and an inability to obtain any form of professional medical intervention or sanctioned rest periods.

The cumulative effect of these untreated ailments, combined with the relentless schedule and negligible remuneration, culminated in the deaths of three sailors whose identities remain undisclosed, an outcome that not only highlights the human cost of the supply chain feeding the United Kingdom and European Union fish markets but also raises serious questions about the efficacy of existing maritime labor oversight mechanisms that appear to have permitted such a tragedy to unfold unchecked.

In the broader context, the episode underscores a systemic failure wherein national authorities, flag states, and importing nations continue to rely on certification schemes that insufficiently monitor state‑owned fleets, thereby allowing practices that prioritize maximal catch over crew welfare to persist, a paradox that suggests that without substantive reform of inspection protocols, wage standards, and health‑safety provisions, similar episodes are likely to recur under the guise of meeting consumer demand.

Published: April 23, 2026