In response to concerns regarding labour issues in the UK fishing sector, the SEA Alliance has developed a timebound action plan focused on ensuring effective Human Rights Due Diligence in UK fish supply chains.

Julia Black, Hilton Foods – SEA Alliance UK Action Plan Working Group Lead.

Key areas of focus:

• Review and support implementation of SEA Alliance UK Action Plan.
• Engaging with the Worker Driven Social Responsibility pilot being developed in the Scottish fishing sector.
• Engagement with UK Gov on regulation and standards in UK fishing.
• Reviewing and agreeing any next steps on supply chain data gathering exercise.
• Holding periodic meetings with UK fishing sector representatives (e.g. via Fishermen’s Welfare Alliance).

Specific work areas

• Risk assessment for source fisheries for the UK market. The SEA Alliance Fishery Risk Tool uses data from several indices and ratings systems to produce a high-level baseline assessment of human rights risks in selected fisheries. The focus for assessment is human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour. This assessment is intended to represent the first step in a risk assessment process conducted by businesses and does not constitute a thorough analysis of all factors likely to contribute to risk.

• Respond in a timely way to identified risks in source fisheries. In response to concerns regarding labour issues in the UK fishing sector, the SEA Alliance has developed a timebound action plan focused on ensuring effective Human Rights Due Diligence in UK fish supply chains. The SEA Alliance and its members are working with civil society organisations and the fishing industry to implement this action plan, and engaging with Government agencies to advocate for effective regulation and enforcement.