The Seafood Ethics Common Language Group
About the Seafood Ethics Common Language Group (SECLG)
The SECLG provides a safe meeting space to discuss the key ethical issues faced by the international seafood industry. The group looks at social welfare issues that affect the UK seafood supply chain, whether in the UK or seafood imported into the UK. This covers human trafficking, labour abuses, child labour, debt bondage, forced labour, migrant workers, and modern slavery. It is an opportunity to share new ideas or best practice case studies from around the world.
The group is led by our industry and we take responsibility for running the SECLG. The Group has met twice a year since 2014. The SECLG brings together seafood industry representatives from major supermarket chains, smaller retailers, processors, foodservice and the catching sector. Other people who attend are not-for-profit voluntary groups, welfare charities, consumer groups, government and social research scientists.
There are generally two meetings a year. Due to Covid-19 we are running shorter online bite-size SECLG meetings in 2020.
Notes and presentations from previous meetings
See the presentations from SECLG bite-size – 8 July 2020. At-sea social criteria.
This bite-size meeting looked at new initiatives and standards to ensure all commercial fishers have minimum standards and decent conditions of work on board fishing vessels, as well as an effective means to voice any concerns.
- GSA RFVS Transition Program. Mike Platt, RS Standards/Global Seafood Assurances.
- FisheryProgress draft social policy for Fishery Improvement Projects (FIPs). Kristin Sherwood, Fish Choice.
- GSA Fishery Worker Voice Project. Melanie Siggs, Global Seafood Assurances.
See the presentations from CLG bite-size – 27 May 2020.
This bite-size meeting looked at how the ILO Work in Fishing Convention (C188) has been adopted by the UK fishing industry and the issues created by COVID-19. See the presentations from this session:
- The Maritime and Coastguard Agency Marine Guidance and Information Notes.
- The Scottish White Fish Fishermen’s Association new recruitment agency initiative.
- Q&A Briefing Note
Further SECLG bite-size meetings are scheduled for 2 September 2020 and 12 November 2020. For further information, please contact Karen Green
Seafood Ethics Common Language Group meeting notes
Further information
For more information on this work and to download Seafish briefing papers, visit our Ethics in Seafood webpage
Read the Seafood Ethics Common Language Group Terms of Reference (March 2019)
Subscribe to receive our monthly update and meeting details
SECLG monthly news alerts
Our social responsibility work
Social responsibility is a key work area for us. As well as running the SECLG we also support the seafood industry in a number of key areas to help eliminate unethical practices from UK seafood supply chains. To find out more read our Social Responsibility in Seafood briefing note
Contacts
For further information on the Seafood Ethics Common Language Group contact: