SeaFood Business is the global trusted authority for seafood buyers and sellers. We are the seafood industry's leading trade magazine with more than 30 years of experience. Our coverage is based on the "business" of buying and selling seafood.
Issue link: https://seafoodbusiness.epubxp.com/i/139359
Top Story Continued from page 19 value that we need to remember, but that doesn't excuse either forced or child labor. Any abuse is too much abuse." Closing loopholes Te industry has used third-party certifcation as its primary tool to ensure a clean supply chain both on the environmental side and now increasingly for checking on social issues. "I think that sort of just follows naturally in line with concerns about sustainability and as people became more concerned about sustainability — not only our customers but also shoppers at the grocery store and seafood counter," says Joe Chekouras, director of social responsibility for Mazzetta Co. in Highland Park, Ill. Mazzetta requires all vendors to pass thirdparty social-responsibility audits. Most of the time, the issue may be a lack of documentation: "Specifc instances that we've run across are things like overtime hours not being documented … and in those instances we require the supplier to give us a corrective action plan to show us how they're going to document overtime in the future, and also give us a plan to make sure they're educating managers about their new requirements. "Te drastic things, while they're examples that get the most attention, and rightly so in many cases, those should be the ones that are easy to fnd if a company is looking," he adds. "It's the more detailed level where I think that you can fnd issues that can be corrected before they become major problems." But major problems are still making their way into the supply chain — and media. Both Mazzetta and High Liner Foods USA in Portsmouth, N.H., were among seafood companies sourcing from Sanford, one of New Zealand's largest seafood suppliers, which was implicated to be buying from Korean-fagged boats using Indonesians as slave laborers in New Zealand waters. Tat story was uncovered in a February 2012 Bloomberg Businessweek article. Te industry's response to the allegations was immediate, and led to lasting changes. "[Te boats] had a hiring agent from Indonesia with forced labor and there were certain types of documents that were taken from individuals to keep them on board these ships," says Bill DiMento, director of corporate sustainability for High Liner. Te company's investigation also uncovered payment abuses, which led to "very strong corrective action," says DiMento, "not only by the company but also the New Zealand government," which now requires crews on those vessels be paid by a New Visit us online at www.seafoodbusiness.com Zealand company. It was too soon to verify the validity of the allegations — and any corrective action necessary — the day the Narong report came out, but BAP management was already following up on the allegations, says Steven Hedund, GAA's communications manager. "It's difcult to say exactly what the corrective course of action will be. Basically Narong Seafood will be required to respond to all accusations in the report including the accusations of deceiving the auditor," says Hedlund. "Te bottom line is if you're not adhering to the standard, you lose certifcation." BAP's processing plant standards contain 36 clauses related to employee safety and relations. In its farmed multi-species standards revised this spring, BAP increased the number of workerrelated clauses from 12 to 33. It was a move driven by the marketplace, says Lee. "Our mission is to lead the way on sustainable and responsible aquaculture so we are keen on good labor standards, but the message was also coming through loud and clear from the retailers that were backing our program," he explains. "Tey wanted this whole social component of the program beefed up and we've done just that." helping to keep supStill, loopholes re- pliers in line and when main. In regard to EJF's there are accusations of labor abuse that they're followed up on immediately — that's part of the process," he says. Bueno, the FAO consultant, recommends voluntary i ndu st r y-w ide codes of conduct based on m a r k e t- b a s e d standards to help fll the gap. "Tey are usually more efcient than legally prescribed Stronger supply chain standards, which are checkpoints haven't halted worker abuses. based on only one motivation: not to be report on human traf- penalized," he says. fcking, Trent says trash "Market-based stanfsh from those boats dards tend to reward may be made into fsh adherents with betoil and fshmeal that ter prices. Voluntary measures also relieve farmed shrimp eat. "It is an issue, but government of a large it's not something that expense on enforcepeople are ignoring, and ment. Tis is not to one of the requirements say that regulations in our standards is that should be abolished; the feed from 2015 on- they can perform the wards, a high portion of role of being a backthose ingredients must ground threat to those who might be tempted be certifed," says Lee. As Lee makes clear, to take shortcuts." As unsavory as rethe standards will continue to evolve, and ports of abuse are for while Hedlund says the industry, they can third party-certifcation help close loopholes is part of the answer, when increased public pressure from the mar- attention creates demand for change. Tat ketplace is critical too. "It is on the market- may ultimately enplace to ensure that the sure the only surprises facilities are playing by along the seafood supthe rules, and it's up to ply chain are the timthird-party certifers to ing of an auditor's visit. verify it. Te pressure coming from third- Email Assistant Editor Wood at party certifcation and Melissa the marketplace is mwood@divcom.com Photo courtesy of The Environmental Justice Foundation Top Story July 2013 SeaFood Business 37