Fishing industry abuses ‘not the norm’

The daughter of a trawlerman who drowned with four of his crew has claimed worker exploitation in Ireland’s fishing industry is the exception and not the norm.

Lia Ní Aodha wrote an open letter to mark her anger at claims of human trafficking, abuse, and modern-day slavery facing African and Asian fishermen on whitefish and prawn boats.

Gardaí, justice, and Government officials met on Thursday for the first time as part of a special taskforce to investigate the claims, which also involved migrant workers allegedly suffering sleep deprivation, inhuman hours, and low pay.