Seafood Watch has issued a proper response outlining its rankings programme and human rights coverage in an additional instance of constructive engagement with Human Rights at Sea’s (HRAS) Certification, Requirements and Scores Evaluate.

HRAS welcomes this public reply, which follows on from a gathering between the 2 organisations in late June 2023.

Seafood Watch, which is run by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in California, outlined its long-term dedication to upholding environmental requirements alongside its newer growth of the Seafood Social Danger Software.

Seafood Watch has now joined a number of different organisations by formally responding to HRAS’s report, together with the Aquaculture Stewardship Council and the FISH Commonplace for Crew.

Continued Engagement

This engagement is rising additional as HRAS prepares Model 2.0 of the report for publication. All through this course of, HRAS will proceed to pretty and transparently join with scheme house owners to know their processes and goals and to advocate for better safety of the human rights of these at sea.

Seafood Watch’s Response

“Our Seafood Watch Environmental Scores Program and Broader Work to Handle Human Rights Points

Monterey Bay Aquarium believes that sustainable seafood comes from fisheries and aquaculture operations that reduce dangerous environmental impacts, guarantee good and truthful working circumstances, and assist livelihoods and financial advantages all through the whole provide chain.

For over twenty years, our Seafood Watch program has evaluated the environmental impacts of fisheries and aquaculture supplying the U.S. market. We use a rigorous science-based evaluation course of to provide inexperienced, yellow, and pink rankings and spotlight areas needing enchancment. This system is a trusted supply of data for customers and companies who wish to make environmentally accountable decisions about seafood. Our info is getting used to drive trade enhancements in environmental efficiency and in addition performs a task in growing higher science-based administration and coverage around the globe.

Since 2015, the Aquarium’s focus has advanced to incorporate work to handle necessary fairness and human rights points that exist within the seafood provide chain. We now have developed assets, such because the Seafood Social Danger Software, that may assist companies and policymakers be taught extra about methods to establish and handle the danger of compelled labor, human trafficking, and unsafe little one labor in seafood provide chains.

Once we work immediately in particular areas or international locations to enhance the environmental sustainability of fisheries and aquaculture, we additionally work to know and deal with the underlying drivers of human rights violations and social inequities. On this work, we’re guided by our Social Sustainability Advisory Group, a gaggle of educational researchers, human rights professionals, employee and producers’ organizations, trade representatives, economists, and others who present beneficial strategic steerage and experience.

For extra details about Seafood Watch’s environmental rankings and the Aquarium’s work to handle the social points which might be important to sustainable seafood manufacturing, please go to www.seafoodwatch.org.”

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Picture credit score: Monterey Bay Aquarium.