Working to improve human rights in the seafood industry

Seafood Watch is committed to transforming how seafood is fished and farmed so both people and the planet can thrive for the long term. To achieve this goal, we must ensure that sustainable seafood comes from fisheries and aquaculture operations that provide good and fair working conditions and respect human rights. In 2022, we made significant progress as we expanded our work on two fronts.

We formed a Social Sustainability Advisory Group to review and advise on integration of human rights considerations with existing environmentally focused work. The group of experts from 14 countries includes international researchers, human rights and social equity professionals, economists, and others. They are providing valuable strategic guidance and expertise as Seafood Watch works to ensure that the seafood we eat doesn’t harm the people who fish and farm it.

We also launched an updated and improved version of the Seafood Social Risk Tool for businesses. They can use this tool to better understand human rights and labor conditions in their seafood supply chains — and engage in efforts to improve them. The tool profiles seafood production systems around the world to identify areas that are at higher risk of forced labor, human trafficking, and child labor. Our aim: to encourage businesses to engage with producers and correct those abuses.