Rome - The World Fisheries Day celebration on Wednesday in FAO will focus on strengthening the fight against trafficking and forced labor in the fishing sector.

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization and the Holy See will join together on this occasion to call for cooperation to secure the rights of fishermen and workers throughout the value chain.

FAO Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva will open the event with a message from the Holy See, followed by a panel discussion.

'Labor rights are human rights: working together to guarantee fishermen's rights, fighting trafficking and forced labor in the fishing sector' is the topic chosen this year for the commemoration of the event.

Convention 188 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), in force since November 16, 2017, contributes to improving working conditions in the fishing sector, in particular of the 38 million people engaged in capture fishing, one of the most dangerous jobs in the world.

The ILO recognizes that although there is good treatment of crew on many ships, fishermen too often face informal employment practices, work in remote areas and dangers associated with work in the marine environment.

It is also concerned about situations such as forced labor, human trafficking and the exploitation of migrant workers in global fisheries, in the face of legislation and regulations supposedly designed to protect fishers but which are not clear or do not exist.

World Fisheries Day, established in 1998, is celebrated every year on November 21 worldwide to focus attention on the importance of proper international fisheries management to ensure sustainable populations and healthy ocean ecosystems.