Dane Duplessis is based at the port of Cape Town, where he works as a coordinator for the non-profit organisation Biblia, a South African Christian NGO, that inspects boats in an effort to find victims of slave labour. His key responsibility is to create awareness around slave labour among international fisherman that enter the port. “I am passionate about human rights and business governance,” he says.

When Dane was approached to speak at the TEDxCapeTownSalon event he jumped at the opportunity, despite having never spoken at an event like TEDx before. He says that he feels nervous, but is also excited to share his experience and knowledge of the subject.

“Slave labour among fishermen in Cape Town is rife and rampant. Despite this, very few people know about the abuses of human lives in the fishing industry. I feel TEDx would be a perfect platform to shed some light on the severity of the situation and help people realise how prevalent it is.”

Dane says he feels inspired by the people that he meets. “We are all the same, despite race, creed, religion or social status. Fisherman too are human beings. Their lives matter. They deserve to be treated equally. I hope my talk helps rally support and recognition for fishermen. I hope that people will gain insight into the lives of fisherman and the things they endure as they sail the seas.” Mentor This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx