ILO adopts landmark code of practice on occupational safety and health in aquaculture

The International Labour Organization (ILO) concluded a landmark week of negotiations in Geneva with the adoption of a new Code of Practice on Occupational Safety and Health in Aquaculture-a major step toward improving working conditions across one of the world's fastest-growing food production sectors.

Held from 4-8 May 2026 at ILO headquarters, the Meeting of Experts brought together representatives of governments, employers and workers from around the world to finalize practical guidance aimed at reducing injuries, illnesses and fatalities in aquaculture operations. The workers' delegation, coordinated by the IUF Seafood Workers Division, included experts from affiliated unions across all five continents.

The development of the code can be traced back to the IUF conference "Organising Globally to Fight Exploitation in Fisheries and Aquaculture", held in Oslo in November 2015. Following the conference, the IUF coordinated with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on the production of the global scoping study Aquaculture Occupational Safety and Health between 2017 and 2019. The study subsequently contributed to the decision of the ILO Tripartite Meeting on the Future of Work in Aquaculture to support the development of a dedicated code of practice.

The newly adopted code is expected to become a global reference for policymakers, enterprises, farmers, labour inspectors and union organizers throughout the aquaculture sector.

The agreement comes at a critical moment for global aquaculture, which employs millions of workers worldwide and continues to expand rapidly in response to rising food demand. Experts participating in the meeting emphasized that occupational hazards in aquaculture remain insufficiently addressed in many countries, despite growing evidence of risks linked to diving operations, machinery, chemical exposure, confined spaces, thermal stress, biological hazards and psychosocial pressures. The code reflects broader international labour principles concerning decent work, social dialogue and the protection of vulnerable workers in rural and marine economies.

Participants described the outcome as a milestone for the aquaculture sector, marking the first comprehensive international framework dedicated specifically to occupational safety and health in aquaculture.

Workers' Group spokesperson James Ritchie welcomed the outcome of the negotiations: "We had wins on gender equality even though negotiations in this area were difficult, on the impact of weather and climate and on psychosocial risks. We fought back against behaviour-based safety and kept the hierarchy of control approach intact, protected the right of workers to remove themselves from dangerous situations without undue consequences and secured reference to protections for workers in vulnerable situations. We also have very detailed technical guidelines which are specific to the industry and this was enabled by the knowledge that was brought by the workers' team of experts."