<p>Forced labor on distant-water fishing (DWF) vessels is a serious transnational crime involving grave human rights violations. Despite a growing body of qualitative research documenting abusive practices, existing studies remain fragmented and examine discrete stages of exploitation in isolation. Therefore, based on a synthesis of twenty interview-based qualitative studies for forced labor on DWF vessels, this study addresses this gap by applying crime script analysis (CSA), a method widely used to examine various types of crime, to reconstruct forced labor as a process unfolding across four stages: preparation (recruitment), pre-activity (transit and onboarding), activity (exploitation at sea), and post-activity (exit and return). The findings reveal consistent patterns of forced labor that recur across different hiring and labor-supplying countries. By mapping the mechanisms of forced labor to specific temporal and spatial stages, this study offers in-depth evidence that can be used to devise stage-specific policy interventions in the DWF sector. We recommend that these interventions, for both hiring and labor-supplying countries, prioritize evidence-based strategies to combat forced labor on their distant water fleets, and focus on recruitment reform, strengthened legal accountability, enhanced port inspections, and improved victim support programs.</p>