Since the early 2010s, reports of human rights violations in the seafood industry have exposed widespread challenges.
Initially, these challenges focused on fisheries in Southeast Asia and West Africa, regions where Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing has amplified the risks. However, by 2020, the global understanding of these risks expanded significantly; a US Congressional report on human trafficking in seafood supply chains listed 20 high-risk countries across every continent except North America, highlighting industry activities such as aquaculture, processing and fishing vessels as areas of concern.
Today, countries previously considered medium or low risk for seafood sourcing are being re-evaluated as high-risk. For instance, Ecuador – responsible for 32% of Europe’s shrimp imports – has seen a 70% rise in mangrove deforestation driven by shrimp farming. Meanwhile, in the UK, issues such as lack of work permits, excessive overtime, wage theft and even abuse have come to light.
Perhaps even more shocking, 20% of the Withhold Release Orders (WROs) issued by the US CBP between 2020 and 2022 were against companies in the seafood industry.
Casting the net on responsible sourcing
Once you have seafood identified as a high-risk product, where do you begin? Retailers may have 1,000s of tier 1 suppliers – having visibility to the vessels and farms underneath, and the violations that may be occurring is a daunting and expensive task.
With the exception of some industry leaders, like Thai Union – who developed their own standard and assessment programme – until recently, the industry has largely relied on third party voluntary certifications. Negative media exposure tended to drive new retailer commitments to seafood certifications like Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) or Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), that go a long way in promoting sustainable seafood by setting standards for environmental and social responsibility but have limited human rights-specific components.
The seafood industry is beginning to adopt more comprehensive strategies to address these challenges. Initiatives like Seafood Watch have introduced metrics, including 80 unique risk indicators, to guide companies on where to focus their efforts. Meanwhile, tools like the Social Responsibility Assessment Tool are enabling companies to assess and share risks internally, reducing audit fatigue and addressing root causes rather than focusing solely on compliance.
Collaboration is also key. In a recent example, several retailers conducted a joint human rights impact assessment and remediation project for shrimp farming in India in 2023. LRQA is contributing to these efforts through initiatives such as the Grievance Mechanism Pilot in partnership with the Seafood Task Force (STF) and Humanity Research Consultancy (HRC). Supported by Humanity United and the Freedom Fund, this pilot aims to create a consultative, best-practice grievance mechanism for tuna fishermen, providing a vital framework for addressing abuses.
What does the future hold?
As global demand for seafood continues to rise, the emphasis on sustainable sourcing has never been more critical. Balancing environmental stewardship with ethical responsibility will shape the future of the seafood industry. Over the next decade, we expect five key trends to accelerate:
- Broader interventions beyond certifications – Industry efforts will focus on holistic approaches that address human rights risks comprehensively.
- Adoption of responsible seafood programmes – These will integrate Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD), prioritising risk assessments, remediation and transparent reporting.
- Data-driven decision-making – Companies will harness smarter data integration to better understand and prioritise risks, addressing the challenge of fragmented data.
- Increased vendor ownership – Vendors will take greater responsibility for managing sourcing systems and providing transparent data to retailers.
- Industry alignment on global governance – A move towards coordinated global frameworks will reduce reliance on fragmented, NGO-driven pilot projects.
A call for collective action
The seafood industry is at a pivotal moment. Consumers and businesses are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental, social and ethical implications of their choices. Navigating this complex landscape requires a nuanced understanding of sustainability claims and a commitment to collaboration, innovation and accountability. By embracing innovative strategies and aligning on global governance, we can address human rights risks while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the sector.
At LRQA, we are committed to helping our clients advance their responsible sourcing practices, tackle systemic issues and drive meaningful change in the seafood industry.
