Social Accountability in Wild Capture Fisheries A supply chain ...
Social Accountability in Wild Capture Fisheries A supply chain perspec7ve David Parker Head of CSR Young’s Seafood Limited
Reports began to arise Early 2010 to Guardian article 2014
According to the UN there are 27 to 30 million enslaved people in the world today The Global Slavery Index states that 10 nations account for 76% of the global enslaved: India (14m), China (2.9m), Pakistan (2.1m), Nigeria (701k), Ethiopia (651k), Russia (516k), Thailand 473k), Congo (462k), Myanmar (384k), Bangladesh 343k) So, this isn’t just about Thailand, and we certainly can’t assume that it is an issue confined to developing world nations … The Home Office estimates that there are between 10,000 to 13,000 people held in Modern Day Slavery in the UK
“This is one of the most complex CSR challenges that we have faced as a business (perhaps ever) and the decision making is fraught with risk.” Mike Mitchell – internal note to Young’s board (21st July 2015) So what do we do? • Do we distance ourselves from the issue by walking away? • Does that help things improve? • Can we actually make a difference, even if we continue to sell?
From Thailand to Ireland… - Need to understand the full extent of this problem in the seafood supply chain Globally - where are the flash points, where should we focus most effort? - Can’t just rely on media reports and broad brush risk assessments. Likely not endemic globally, but certainly not limited to Thailand - What are the risk factors and how do we assess these risks in an accurate and precise way?
Risk Assessment
Global Slavery Index
Risk Factors
Risk Factors.. Due to their remote nature, Certain industries face particularly high environmental risks, including agriculture, Fishing and aquaculture, logging, and mining. Workers in these sectors also face risks; the use of forced labour has been documented along the supply chains of many commercial sectors. Exploitation of both people and natural resources appears even more likely when the yield is obtained or produced in illegal, unregulated, or environmentally harmful ways and in areas where monitoring and legal enforcement are weak. Culture also plays a role, migrant labour is a HUGE risk factor
Risk Assessment
Appropriate Response
- What Innovation and Leadership looks like on this challenge There is no turn key solution, RFS will take time to develop as a solution globally, until then solutions must be bespoke based on area (Isaara), fleet and cultural factors in the location. We cant just audit our way out of this, provides assurance but does it make a difference? How do we make a real difference to the lives of workers in our supply chain given our resource? How can we influence a culture of respect and care? Role for Social Science , how to change culture and combat otherism? What can we learn from other industries, clothing in Bangladesh for example?
Young’s are committed to ensuring social justice within the seafood industry, But we are one single player… How do we ensure that as an industry we can collectively work to make a real and long term change to the lives of those working in our supply chain?
The Role of the industry and what we should aspire to .. We’re not Interpol and we don’t have a navy.. Alone few of us are significant players in many fisheries, but we do have collective influence and in Europe our industry is viewed globally as CSR leaders – we need to set an example Collectively We need to work out how to change risk areas from a culture of exploitation to that of care and respect and improve lives.
Reports began to arise Early 2010 to Guardian article 2014
According to the UN there are 27 to 30 million enslaved people in the world today The Global Slavery Index states that 10 nations account for 76% of the global enslaved: India (14m), China (2.9m), Pakistan (2.1m), Nigeria (701k), Ethiopia (651k), Russia (516k), Thailand 473k), Congo (462k), Myanmar (384k), Bangladesh 343k) So, this isn’t just about Thailand, and we certainly can’t assume that it is an issue confined to developing world nations … The Home Office estimates that there are between 10,000 to 13,000 people held in Modern Day Slavery in the UK
“This is one of the most complex CSR challenges that we have faced as a business (perhaps ever) and the decision making is fraught with risk.” Mike Mitchell – internal note to Young’s board (21st July 2015) So what do we do? • Do we distance ourselves from the issue by walking away? • Does that help things improve? • Can we actually make a difference, even if we continue to sell?
From Thailand to Ireland… - Need to understand the full extent of this problem in the seafood supply chain Globally - where are the flash points, where should we focus most effort? - Can’t just rely on media reports and broad brush risk assessments. Likely not endemic globally, but certainly not limited to Thailand - What are the risk factors and how do we assess these risks in an accurate and precise way?
Risk Assessment
Global Slavery Index
Risk Factors
Risk Factors.. Due to their remote nature, Certain industries face particularly high environmental risks, including agriculture, Fishing and aquaculture, logging, and mining. Workers in these sectors also face risks; the use of forced labour has been documented along the supply chains of many commercial sectors. Exploitation of both people and natural resources appears even more likely when the yield is obtained or produced in illegal, unregulated, or environmentally harmful ways and in areas where monitoring and legal enforcement are weak. Culture also plays a role, migrant labour is a HUGE risk factor
Risk Assessment
Appropriate Response
- What Innovation and Leadership looks like on this challenge There is no turn key solution, RFS will take time to develop as a solution globally, until then solutions must be bespoke based on area (Isaara), fleet and cultural factors in the location. We cant just audit our way out of this, provides assurance but does it make a difference? How do we make a real difference to the lives of workers in our supply chain given our resource? How can we influence a culture of respect and care? Role for Social Science , how to change culture and combat otherism? What can we learn from other industries, clothing in Bangladesh for example?
Young’s are committed to ensuring social justice within the seafood industry, But we are one single player… How do we ensure that as an industry we can collectively work to make a real and long term change to the lives of those working in our supply chain?
The Role of the industry and what we should aspire to .. We’re not Interpol and we don’t have a navy.. Alone few of us are significant players in many fisheries, but we do have collective influence and in Europe our industry is viewed globally as CSR leaders – we need to set an example Collectively We need to work out how to change risk areas from a culture of exploitation to that of care and respect and improve lives.
