In this episode of the How to Protect the Ocean podcast, host Andrew Lewin dives deep into the troubling issue of forced labor in tuna fisheries and the shortcomings of eco-labels like the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC).
Join us as we explore:
The importance of sustainable seafood and how eco-labels can guide consumers.
Recent findings from Katrina Nakamura's article in Nature, highlight the alarming prevalence of forced labor in MSC-certified tuna fisheries.
The challenges of monitoring labor practices on fishing vessels and the reliance on self-reported data.
What Oceana is advocating for is to improve transparency and accountability in the seafood supply chain.
Andrew emphasizes the need for a human-centric approach to conservation, recognizing that protecting the ocean also means protecting the vulnerable individuals who rely on it for their livelihoods.
Tune in for an eye-opening discussion that challenges the perception of eco-labels and calls for urgent action to address human rights abuses in the fishing industry.
Chapters:
[00:02:44] Fishery slavery and its impact.
[00:03:59] Eco-labels and forced labor.
[00:07:11] Forced labor in seafood supply chain.
[00:12:45] MSC's responsibility for labor issues.
[00:16:08] Human rights abuses in fishing.
[00:18:05] Forced labor in fisheries.
[00:21:24] Ocean conservation discussion.
Links Mentioned:
Article by Katrina Nakamura: https://www.nature.com/articles/s44183-024-00074-6
Oceana's press release: https://oceana.org/press-releases/tuna-vessels-using-forced-labor-under-msc-ecolabel/
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Happy conservation!
