CHOPPY WATERS Forced Labour and Illegal Fishing in Taiwan’s Distant Water Fisheries TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. Executive Summary 2 2. Introduction 3 Published in March 2020 by: Greenpeace East Asia 3. Methodology 6 No.109, Sec. 1, Chongqing S. Rd, Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City 10045, Taiwan This report is written by Greenpeace East Asia (hereafter re- 4. Findings 8 ferred to as Greenpeace) to assist public education and scien- Indications of forced labour in Taiwan’s distant water fisheries: Cases and evidence 9 tific research, to encourage press coverage and to promote Reports of the fisher story 9 the awareness of environmental protection. Reading this report is considered as you have carefully read and fully un- Reports of abusive working and living conditions 12 derstand this copyright statement and disclaimer, and agree Possible violations of international standards and Taiwanese labour regulations 13 to be bound by the following terms. Potential cases of IUU fishing 18 Copyright Statement: Potential at-sea transshipments based on AIS records 19 This report is published by Greenpeace. Greenpeace is the exclusive owner of the copyright of this report. 5. How tainted tuna catch could enter the market 22 Disclaimer: FCF’s global reach 22 1. This report is originally written in English and translated How tainted catch might enter the global supply chain via FCF 23 into Chinese subsequently. In case of a discrepancy, the English version prevails. 2. This report is ONLY for the purposes of information sha- ring, environmental protection and public interests. There- 6. Taiwan’s responsibilities 25 fore should not be used as the reference of any investment The international environmental and social responsibility of seafood companies 27 or other decision-making process. If so used, Greenpeace is exempt from any liabilities arising from such use. Comments on FCF’s policies 28 3. The content of this report is based only on officially pu- blished information Greenpeace independently obtained during the time of research. Greenpeace does not guaran- 7. Conclusions and recommendations 30 tee the promptness, accuracy and integrity of the informa- FCF should strengthen supply chain management 30 tion contained in this report. Taiwanese government should increase protection for migrant fishers 30 If you have any questions or comments, please contact to [email protected] For more information on www.greenpeace.org/taiwan Glossary 32 Appendix I. Interview guidelines 34 Endnotes 36 Greenpeace is an independent global campaigning organi- zation that acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace. Photo of cover: fishers moving tuna in storage ©Mark Smith / Greenpeace 1 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2. INTRODUCTION aiwan is one f the world’s largest dis- This report is based on a 2019 investigation either through transhipment at port or at tant water fishing (DWF) powers, with conducted by Greenpeace East Asia, invol- sea. Together, these investigations suggest over 1,100 Taiwanese-flagged vessels ving interviews with migrant fishers from that FCF’s supply chains could be tainted Tfishing across our oceans and hundreds three fishing vessels that were either flag- with “modern slavery” and environmental more Taiwanese-owned vessels flagged to ged or linked to Taiwan. We found that IUU destruction. Without greater oversight and other countries.1 Taiwan is also home to fishing and forced labour, allegedly, still con- protective measures in place, consumers in Fong Chun Formosa Fishery Company, Ltd. tinue to happen aboard Taiwanese fishing the main fish markets and elsewhere have (FCF), which has been ranked as one of the vessels operating in the Atlantic Ocean. The every reason for concern that the seafood top three tuna traders in the world.2, 3 FCF’s investigation indicates that violations of la- they buy may have been caught illegally, mi- position as a global player was recently bour and human rights related laws seem to xed with illegal catches or fished by worke- 2.1 A race to the bottom: forced labour and illegal fishing in distant water fishing strengthened with the purchase of US can- remain commonplace in Taiwan’s distant wa- rs subject to poor working conditions and ned tuna company Bumble Bee, further se- ter fishing fleet, where over 20,000 migrant even forced labour. ur oceans are vital for all life on earth. Yet overfishing ding of partial or all wages, denial of free movement, seizu- curing its place as a major supplier of tuna workers, most of whom are hired overseas and destructive fishing are wreaking havoc on marine O re of identity documents, and debt bondage.10 Research to consumers in the United States.4 from Indonesia and the Philippines, are em- For many years, Greenpeace has been advo- life, and threatening the food security and livelihoods of has revealed that decreasing fish stocks are the driving for- ployed.5 The labour conditions reported mi- cating that major seafood corporations, like billions of people. The United Nations Food and Agricul- ce behind forced labour in the industry11 and it is a vicious In recent years, investigations have revealed ght violate relevant Taiwanese regulations FCF, lead and uphold global fishery reform. ture Organization (FAO) estimates that one in three glo- cycle: fishing vessels involved with forced labour are deeply shocking cases of human rights abuses in and they fulfil seven of the eleven Interna- FCF has been upgrading and initiating envi- bal fish stocks for which there is information available are prone to IUU fishing,12 and IUU fishing contributes to over- fisheries, including forced labour and hu- tional Labour Organization (ILO) indicators ronmental and social policies and programs, overfished.6 It’s just the tip of the iceberg for fish popu- fishing and the further decrease of fish stocks. man trafficking, and identified Taiwanese of forced labour. however FCF’s diffused and complex supply lations as well as the many species of marine mammals, vessels and companies among the worst chain, and the many flags flown by vessels seabirds, sharks, or marine turtles, which are threatened A recent analysis from Nature Communications aiming to offenders. Even though the Taiwanese go- In interviews conducted with migrant catching tuna for the company, make trans- or endangered due to the impacts of fishing. 7Despite in- understand what drives fishing vessels to use forced la- vernment has recently amended relevant fishers, Greenpeace East Asia found the parency of its supply chain all the more im- creasing fishing efforts and more efficient fishing techno- bour, found that the incidence of modern slavery is correla- regulations, progress has not been enou- fishing activities described indicate IUU portant. FCF must take more proactive and logies, global fish catches have steadily declined since the ted with the following conditions:13 gh: both government and corporates con- fishing practices, namely related to shark fin- progressive actions, including enhancing 1990s.8 On a warming planet where climate change, ocean • Prevalence of unreported fishing activities, resulting tinue to fail to protect the human rights of ning and illegal transhipments. One fishing the traceability of the seafood supply chain; acidification, plastic pollution, and habitat destruction are in ineffective monitoring and enforcement of laws and migrant fishers in the Taiwanese distant vessel, which has been accused of working source only from vessels that do not take already decimating ocean life, restoring fish populations regulations. water fishing fleet. In Greenpeace East Asia conditions indicative of forced labour and part in transhipments at sea; strictly comply and ensuring well-managed fisheries is of utmost impor- reports Made in Taiwan (2016) and Misery IUU fishing, and one major carrier, which al- with international standards on human and tance - not only to safeguard marine life but to ensure the • Distant water fishing operations, where regulatory at Sea (2018), Greenpeace East Asia docu- legedly received catch from a fishing vessel labour rights and best practices; support food security of 3.1 billion people, many in developing cou- gaps and insufficient oversight by governments are mented the “laissez-faire” attitude from the suspected of forced labour and IUU fishing, legally binding agreements with labour ntries, for whom fish represents 20% or more of the animal an obstacle to detect and prosecute violations of fishe- Taiwanese Fisheries Agency (TFA) towards are linked to FCF. In addition, Greenpeace unions; upgrade its sustainability policy; protein they have access to.9 ries and labour regulations. both illegal, unreported, and unregulated East Asia analysed the automatic identifica- and establish concrete and effective action (IUU) fishing and human rights abuses, and tion system (AIS) data of the fishing vessels, plans to demonstrate its tuna is caught le- Due to overfishing, it is becoming more and more difficult • High levels of subsidies such as support for cheaper pointed out the influential role FCF could where available, and found that the catches gally and responsively, and the workers in to fish, and fishing vessels must venture further from sho- fuel, gear, and shipping vessels, which reduce fishing play in eradicating these practices. could have made their way to the market its supply chain enjoy safe and just working re and stay at sea for longer periods of time. Longer trips, companies’ operating costs. This creates a situation