Greenpeace

The focus has been on tuna fisheries, but it has been necessary to address other fisheries and aquaculture operations as well. Greenpeace works closely with governments and corporations, seeking to collaborate when possible on achieving regulatory reform as well as private sector commitments.

Greenpeace East Asia report: Misery at Sea. Taiwanese seafood giant linked to human rights violations. March 2018.

New evidence links human rights abuses to Taiwan’s international fishing fleet, including major seafood trader Fong Chun Formosa Fishery Company (FCF). The investigations show that Taiwan’s fishery supply chain is still tainted by human rights abuses, despite the law change in early 2017 to protect migrant fishers on Taiwanese vessels.

Greenpeace East Asia report: Seabound. The Journey to Modern Slavery on the High Seas. December 2019.

Relying on interviews, documents, and other information, the report painted a picture of Indonesian, Filipino, and other Southeast Asian migrant fishermen working aboard distant-water vessels owned by foreign countries and suffering from mistreatment, human rights abuses, and forced labour. The report accused 13 foreign distant-water vessels registered in China, Taiwan, Vanuatu, and Fjij of labour abuses such as deception, wage withholding, excessive overtime, and physical or sexual abuse. Five reasons modern slavery at sea is possible were highlighted: vulnerable job-seekers from Indonesia and the Philippines are seeking better paid employment; shady employment agencies lure workers with false promises; fish populations are declining rapidly; transhipment; and a lack of governmental oversight or support. Greenpeace Southeast Asia strongly emphasises the need for ASEAN member States, particularly Indonesia and Philippine governments, to take concrete policy actions to address the labour and environmental issues cited in the report, as well as measures to deal with reportedly high levels of discrimination on DWF vessels.

Greenpeace East Asia report: Choppy Waters – Forced Labour and Illegal Fishing in Taiwan’s Distant Water Fisheries. March 2020.

Taiwan’s major global tuna supplier shows “blind spots” to illegal fishing practices and modern slavery. This new report shows that labour and human rights abuses continue to exist in Taiwan’s distant water fishing fleets, with one major global seafood trader showing its “blind spots” towards practices such as shark finning, forced labour, and illegal transhipment. Greenpeace East Asia is accusing Bumble Bee's parent company, Taiwan-based Fong Chun Formosa (FCF), of forced labor and environmentally harmful practices aboard at least two vessels linked to the company.

Significance for seafood businesses: 

Not seafood-specific, but do work in this sector with a focus on tuna fisheries and Asia. Useful for awareness as an organisation working to support the industry, and improve governance, safety and welfare within the global seafood industry.

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