During 2024, the slew of exposés of human rights abuses within global seafood supply chains highlighted that corporate policies, voluntary certifications and social audits, along with government regulations, are not enough to prevent such atrocities entering the Canadian marketplace.
It underscores the need for companies to shift to a due diligence approach (i.e., the ongoing process of identifying and responding to potential and actual adverse human and environmental impacts within their supply chains) – one that goes beyond certifications and takes responsibility for all products sold in store.
Due diligence guidance already exists for companies in the form of the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises on Responsible Business Conduct. The guidelines were updated in 2023 to further incorporate climate change, biodiversity, animal welfare, workers rights, and more.
In 2024, the Conservation Alliance for Seafood Solutions updated their Guidance for Companies on Environmentally and Socially Responsible Seafood to reflect the OECD Guidelines.
Yet due diligence within major grocers and seafood companies remains elusive.
To help change this, SeaChoice has joined forces with OECD Watch – a global civil society network with more than 140 members across 50 countries; and the Canadian Network on Corporate Accountability – a network of more than 40 Canadian civil society groups. SeaChoice is the first group focused solely on seafood supply chains to join both networks.
Both groups advocate for ambitious due diligence legislation to be adopted. CNCA is calling for the Canadian Government to establish a Due Diligence Law. The European Union has already set the precedent for such a law with the establishment of the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (though how robustly each EU member state implements the directive remains an issue that OECD Watch closely monitors).
One adverse impact unique to global seafood supply chains is illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.
SeaChoice partner organization, Ecology Action Centre, joined the IUU Action Alliance as an NGO supporter. The IUU Action Alliance, formed in 2023, is a coalition of governments and organizations that are committed to ending IUU fishing globally.
IUU fishing is a prevalent issue that leads to the destruction of marine ecosystems and impacts the livelihoods of honest harvesters. Tackling this issue requires a coordinated effort globally toward greater traceability, enforcement and sustainability.
Ecology Action Centre will bring SeaChoice’s expertise and Canadian fisheries perspective to the coalition to tackle this critical issue and hold the Canadian government accountable.
Stay tuned over 2025 as we continue to push the Canadian marketplace, certifications, and decision-makers towards due diligence being the norm – not the exception!
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