On November 21, the annual World Fisheries Day will be celebrated, this year under the theme “We have not caught anything, but at your word I will let down the nets” (Lk 5:5). The Day was established in 1998 with the intention of paying tribute to fishers who, through their profession, provide a valuable service to society. As usual, the Prefect of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, Cardinal Michael Czerny SJ, has dedicated a Message to all workers in the sector.
“We have not caught anything, but at your word I will let down the nets” is Peter’s response to Jesus’ invitation not to lose hope. When work bears no fruit and strength begins to fade, Jesus asks the Apostles to set out again and lower their nets once more. Trusting, the Apostles obey. This, the Prefect says, “This is what fishermen do every day. They let down their nets with hope.” The Cardinal urges fishers and seafarers to keep their faith strong despite the many challenges they face: job insecurity, lack of protection, and separation from their families.
The Prefect reminds us of that aboard fishing vessels, crew members are often forced to remain for several months “living in reduced and uncomfortable spaces, away from their families, with work hours that often exceed legislated limits. Many of them are migrants, who in some cases are contracted under discriminatory conditions” It is important, he says, not to forget “that behind each catch there is a life, a family, a call to integral development.” For this reason, he calls for policies and laws to protect their rights, promoting the active participation of workers in decisions that concern them.
On the tenth anniversary of the Encyclical Laudato si’, the Prefect recalls the need to ensure proper care of the seas and oceans, part of our “common home” and of the global ecological balance. Citing the document, he refers to “destructive methods of fishing with their fateful consequences,” which inevitably link “the crisis of the oceans with unjust working conditions in the fishing industry, the trafficking in persons and the impact on impoverished coastal communities.”
In the context of such a demanding reality as that of those who work at sea, the Prefect gratefully acknowledges the precious role played by the Church, which through the Apostolate of the Sea reaches out to workers: “In coastal parishes and in ports, the chaplains and voluntaries accompany those who endure long absences from their families, dangerous working conditions and hard days at sea, becoming also spokespersons for their dignity. Thank you for this service!”