Two fishers protest for better communication: one sign reads “Human beings can not live without communication,” another says “We are isolated in the distant seas – WiFi now for fishers’ rights at sea.” These messages highlight the critical need for digital connectivity among maritime workers. For fishers and seafarers, months on the ocean mean being cut off from family and the wider world. In today’s interconnected age, such disconnection is more than an inconvenience – it’s a barrier to basic human communication and rights. That is why many are calling for WiFi for fishers as a basic necessity rather than a luxury.
Isolation at Sea: Life Without Connectivity
Imagine working for months without a phone or internet in one of the harshest environments on earth. This is the reality for many fishers who have no communication at sea. Unlike workers on land, they cannot simply call home after a long day. Being on a distant vessel often means being completely cut off once the shoreline disappears beyond the horizon.
The lack of contact with loved ones takes a heavy emotional toll. Families back home might go weeks or months without a word, not knowing if their loved one is safe. For the fishers themselves, the psychological toll can be severe – research shows that being offline for long stretches leads to heightened stress and feelings of isolation . Moreover, the absence of independent communication channels can leave crew members vulnerable. If a fisher faces mistreatment or a medical emergency onboard, they have no private means to call for help or report abuses. In effect, isolation isn’t just a matter of loneliness – it can also hide abuses and dangers that would never be tolerated on land.
Digital Connectivity: A Lifeline for Fishers
Digital connectivity at sea is more than a convenience – it is a lifeline that can dramatically improve the quality of life for fishers and other seafarers. In fact, a recent survey of nearly 10,000 seafarers worldwide found that better internet access was their number one request for improving life at sea . Consider some of the key ways internet access and communication tools help maritime workers:
Staying connected to family: The ability to speak with spouses, children, and parents provides crucial emotional support. In one global survey, limited WiFi and poor communication with loved ones was the most common complaint among seafarers . Regular calls or messages can ease the heartache of missing birthdays, holidays, and daily life back home for months on end. Mental health and well-being: Access to online communication helps combat the depression and loneliness that often accompany long voyages. One study found that providing free internet onboard was among the most significant contributions an employer could make to improve crew mental health . Being able to check in with friends or enjoy social media after a hard day’s work can greatly boost morale. Safety and emergency contact: When emergencies strike at sea – such as a sudden illness or a vessel breakdown – connectivity can be a literal lifeline. With internet or satellite phone access, crew can immediately contact medical professionals or alert rescue services, potentially saving lives. Even receiving up-to-date weather forecasts or safety warnings via the internet can help fishers avoid dangerous situations. Reporting rights abuses: Communication at sea isn’t just about socializing – it’s also about justice. If crew members are subjected to exploitation, human trafficking, or abusive conditions, having a way to discreetly contact authorities, labor unions or advocacy hotlines is critical. Wi-Fi allows fishers to report mistreatment and seek help, whereas without it they may be completely at the mercy of those in power on the vessel. Access to information and services: Connectivity gives seafarers access to the wider world’s information and conveniences. They can keep up with news, access entertainment, take online courses or training, and even manage personal finances remotely. This digital inclusion helps them not feel “left behind” while at sea – they can participate in aspects of daily life that shore workers take for granted.
In short, a connected fisher is a safer, healthier, and more empowered worker. The digital rights for seafarers and fishers to have these lifelines are increasingly seen as essential to their well-being.
Digital Rights for Seafarers: Connectivity as a Human Right
There is a growing call to recognize digital rights for seafarers – the notion that the ability to communicate is a fundamental part of modern labor rights. Being able to connect with the world is increasingly viewed as not just a perk, but a basic human need. Just as maritime workers have rights to safe working conditions, fair pay, and rest, they should also have the right to reach the outside world from aboard their ships.
Global labor standards are beginning to catch up with this idea. In the merchant shipping industry, guidelines under the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) encourage ship owners to provide reasonable access to communication for crews, though these provisions aren’t yet mandatory. For fishers, who often work on smaller vessels or under less scrutiny, there is an urgent need to formalize similar standards. Advocates argue that connectivity as a human right must extend to those at sea, not just those on land. In many countries, internet access is already considered a public utility or even a right for citizens; extending this principle to the high seas is a logical next step in the digital age. Technologically, it is more feasible than ever – advances in satellite and radio networks mean even remote ocean-going vessels can be equipped with Wi-Fi if there is sufficient will and investment.
Rising Voices: Maritime Worker Advocacy for Connectivity
Thanks to maritime worker advocacy, the call for better communication at sea is getting louder. In recent years, seafarers’ unions, human rights organizations, and fishers themselves have pushed this issue into the spotlight. Protests and campaigns are drawing public attention to the digital isolation of those at sea. For example, the “Wi-Fi NOW for Fishers’ Rights at Sea” campaign launched in 2023 is focused on ensuring that the roughly 22,000 migrant fishers in Taiwan’s distant-water fishing fleet – who currently work for months with no way to contact their families or unions – gain access to internet onboard. This is one of several initiatives highlighting that disconnection is an unacceptable gap in workers’ rights. Similarly, global unions such as the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have long fought for seafarers’ welfare and are now emphasizing digital inclusion as part of that mission. Maritime NGOs and charities are also raising awareness, insisting that no worker should be left behind in our connected world. All of these efforts are part of a broader fight for workers’ rights at sea, reinforcing the idea that those who harvest our seafood or transport our goods deserve the same communication rights as any other modern employee.
Conclusion: Bridging the Digital Divide at Sea
At its core, the push to connect fishers and other maritime workers is about basic equality and dignity. In a world where we can video-chat across continents, it is unacceptable that the people who toil in distant oceans remain cut off from the most fundamental communication. Digital inclusion must extend to every ocean and every vessel. Recognizing connectivity at sea as a human right would mark a significant step toward more humane conditions for all who work on the water.
Achieving this will require action on multiple fronts. Governments and international bodies like the ILO need to update global labor standards to include internet access and communication rights. Industry leaders and vessel owners must invest in the necessary technology and infrastructure to get crews online. If we bridge this digital divide at sea, the benefits will be far-reaching – from improved mental health and safety for workers, to more transparent and accountable fishing operations.
The next time we enjoy a seafood meal or receive goods that traveled by ship, we should remember the invisible workers at sea and their simple plea for connection. Ensuring communication at sea for those who sustain global supply chains is not just an economic issue, but a moral one. No one should be left stranded offline in the 21st century.
Transformation! 
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