# Towards a responsible machine learning approach to identify forced labor in fisheries

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.10987 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2302.10987/

## Key facts

- Cited by 1 papers in the map (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 4 of its 60 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 3 Feb 2023.

## Builds on (most cited first, 4 of 4)

- [Model Cards for Model Reporting](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1810.03993/) (2018)
- [Learning from positive and unlabeled data: a survey](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1811.04820/) (2018)
- [ranger: A Fast Implementation of Random Forests for High Dimensional Data in C++ and R](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1508.04409/) (2015)
- [Uncertainty as a Form of Transparency: Measuring, Communicating, and Using Uncertainty](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2011.07586/) (2020)

## Built on by (most cited first, 1 of 1)

- [Causal Feature Selection for Responsible Machine Learning](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2402.02696/) (2024)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Many fishing vessels use forced labor, but identifying vessels that engage in this practice is challenging because few are regularly inspected. We developed a positive-unlabeled learning algorithm using vessel characteristics and movement patterns to estimate an upper bound of the number of positive cases of forced labor, with the goal of helping make accurate, responsible, and fair decisions. 89% of the reported cases of forced labor were correctly classified as positive (recall) while 98% of the vessels certified as having decent working conditions were correctly classified as negative. The recall was high for vessels from different regions using different gears, except for trawlers. We found that as much as ~28% of vessels may operate using forced labor, with the fraction much higher in squid jiggers and longlines. This model could inform risk-based port inspections as part of a broader monitoring, control, and surveillance regime to reduce forced labor. * Translated versions of the English title and abstract are available in five languages in S1 Text: Spanish, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Indonesian.