The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the sea fisheries sector

The quantitative relevance of the small sea fisheries sector has declined over the last ten years, both in the number of ships and, more dramatically, of fishermen, although the catch in volume has probably increased. Industrial relations are restricted to the fleet of 14 trawlers, owned by four companies, according to the social partner respondents. The employer association, the RVZ, concludes the collective agreements with the union CNV Vakmensen (and also, formally, with FNV Bondgenoten). The agreements cover 477 fishermen. In the smaller boats, ship owners and fishermen operate in partnership, sharing the profit from the catch. There are no formal employer-employee relations here.