Shark conservation NGO Shark Guardian has issued a report accusing Taiwanese tuna giant Fong Chun Formosa (FCF) of failing to address “shocking environmental and human rights breaches in its supply chain,” allegations the company dismissed as outdated.
“We welcome meaningful engagement with all stakeholders on these issues, but the allegations in Shark Guardian’s recent report are both outdated and, in many instances, not based on verifiable evidence,” FCF said in a statement.
The report, "Empty Promises, Empty Oceans: Fong Chun Formosa Fishery Company’s Sustainability," claims that there is a gap between FCF’s public claims of vetting its supply chain and the actual activities its suppliers engage in. Shark Guardian argues that while FCF announces new sustainability initiatives and commitments, it has not credibly demonstrated progress on achieving the standards it sets for itself.
“Despite its public promises, FCF’s supply chain lacks rigorous examination, its audits are not transparent, and reported violations have little repercussion. Rather than delivering on existing sustainability targets, FCF continuously sets new ones, creating a pattern of delays and obfuscation,” the report states.
The U.K.-based NGO called on FCF to take “transparent, accountable, and enforceable actions” to address issues in the fishing industry.
“Our report exposes not only serious environmental and labor abuses but a cynical lack of transparency by FCF and a deeply worrying lack of action by the organizations created to monitor bad practices by fisheries,” Shark Guardian Founder Brendon Sing said in a statement.
FCF retorted, saying that the company quickly removes businesses or vessels from its supply chain that are credibly accused of violating its policies.
“In many cases, FCF has already worked with regulators and vessel owners and operators to resolve past concerns through both sanctions and corrective actions. FCF maintains a strict policy against IUU fishing and forced labor practices and swiftly suspends business with any vessel facing credible allegations until thorough investigations are concluded,” the company said. “If necessary, corrective actions are not taken, we remove the vessels from our supply chain.”
FCF has been a target for labor abuse campaigns in the past.
In 2023, FCF-owned Bumble Bee Foods was forced to remove the terms “fair and safe supply chain” and “fair and responsible working conditions” from its website and promotional materials in a settlement of a lawsuit brought by Global Labor Justice-International Labor Rights Forum (GLJ-ILRF). Bumble Bee Foods told SeafoodSource in 2022 that it “adamantly” disagreed with GLI-ILRF’s allegations. Greenpeace has also criticized the company as part of its End Modern Slavery campaign.
In March, a delegation led by U.S. Department of Labor Deputy Undersecretary Thea Lee met with the Taiwanese fishing industry to address labor issues onboard distant-water fishing vessels. The U.S. Labor Department had previously accused the Taiwanese fishing fleet of engaging in labor transgressions and illegal fishing.
FCF maintains that it is making progress.
“As one of the global seafood leaders, FCF recognizes our responsibility to continue to close the gap on some of the biggest sustainability and social challenges impacting our business, our industry, and our world. We are making great progress through a strategic combination of internal initiatives as well as external projects and partnerships,” FCF said in a statement shared with SeafoodSource.
FCF is Shark Guardian’s latest target as the NGO works to point out discrepancies between seafood companies’ sustainability initiatives and the lack of real-world progress for fishers out on the ocean. In May, the NGO released a similar report highlighting issues it found with Thai Union’s operations.
