Vatican Official Sends Solidary Message to Stella-Marris Kenya, Calls for Inclusion of Fishermen in Decision-Making

In the 2025 message for the WFD, Cardinal Czerny lamented that although fishermen play a critical role as “guardians of Creation,” most of them face challenges far beyond the seas, including low income, job insecurity, poor working conditions, and long periods away from their families.

“We must not forget that behind each catch there is a life, a family, a call to integral development,” he stated, noting that crews onboard the large industrial fishing vessels “remain for months, living in reduced and uncomfortable spaces, away from their families, with work hours that often exceed legislated limits.”

“Migrant workers on large vessels, in particular, face cramped living conditions, extended work hours, and sometimes discriminatory contracts. According to the International Labour Organization, fishing remains one of the most hazardous professions globally,” the Cardinal said.

Drawing inspiration from Pope Leo XIV’s Apostolic exhortation Dilexi Te on love for the poor, the Vatican-based member of the Society of Jesus (SJ/Jesuits) underscored the need for a renewed commitment in resolving the structural causes of poverty, particularly in the fishing sector.

He underlined the need to value and promote human dignity, saying, “It is evident that the care of the seas and fishing is intimately tied to the care of persons. Besides the controls that are necessary to apply the laws and measures pertaining to the working conditions of fishermen, on this World Fisheries Day.”

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“It is important to emphasize the need to watch over the defense of the dignity of the fishermen (including those engaging in aquaculture) and their families, seeking their integral development,” Cardinal Czerny said.

The November 20 unveiling of the Strategic Plan and a new Fisher’s Safety Training Curriculum by Archbishop Kivuva is expected to enhance Stella-Maris Kenya’s impact and deepen its service, “casting wider nets of hope” for all who labor on the waters of the East African nation.

Stella-Maris Kenya is an initiative of the Archdiocese of Mombasa that cares for the “spiritual, social, and material welfare of all seafarers and fishers without distinction of color, race, or creed.”

In his opening remarks on Wednesday, November 19, during a one-day National Fishers’ Conference in his Metropolitan See and ahead of the launch of the Strategic Plan Document, Archbishop Kivuva said he was honored to acknowledge that the initiative, “now a global effort,” had its origins in the Archdiocese of Mombasa through Caritas and other partners.

"We take this with pride and thank God. This is the mission of the Church: to go out into the whole world and make disciples,” he said.