Achieving fundraising with full-chain traceability in line with international standards
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In 2022, in JapanFisheries Distribution Optimization ActThis was enacted.IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishingThis is the first law in Asia that aims to prevent seafood from IUU fishing from entering the market. Two years have passed since it came into force, but are fishery workers who are properly following the rules in Japan and other Asian countries being protected from unfair price competition? In addition, in September 2, IUU Forum Japan, which includes Seafood Legacy, submitted a joint declaration with 2024 major domestic companies calling for strengthened measures to prevent seafood procured through IUU fishing from entering the domestic market and to take measures against human rights violations. What should each country do to prevent IUU fishing and human rights violations, which cannot be solved by Japan alone?
The panel discussion held at the Tokyo Sustainable Seafood Summit 2024, "Production: Contributing to achieving nature positivity and international food security in fisheries and aquaculture in Japan and Asia: Eradicating IUU fishing and labor human rights violations," was moderated by Minako Iue, chairperson of Sailors for the Sea's Japan branch, and six other panelists discussed the current state and future of global measures to combat IUU fishing and human rights violations.
Sally Yosel, Environmental Security Program, Stimson Center
- Lee Ju-young, Department of Ocean Fisheries, Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Republic of Korea
・Hidenori Nakahira, Fisheries Agency, Fisheries Policy Department, Processing and Distribution Division
- Ms. Zhang Wei-Hsiang, Fisheries Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Taiwan
- David Williams, International Labour Organization (ILO)
・Aeon Topvalu Co., Ltd. Product Development Division, Shinya Matsutani
In the United States in 2018SIMP (United States Seafood Import Monitoring System)was established and covers 13 fish species, approximately 40% of US seafood imports. However, in 2019, $24 billion worth of IUU fishing products entered the US market. Therefore, SIMP will be revised in 2022 and 2023, and a workshop with stakeholders will be held in 2024.
We confirmed that it is important to clarify the roles and responsibilities of governments, industries, and stakeholders regarding forced labor, as well as to streamline information gathering and cooperate with other countries.
In order to address the threat to food security posed by IUU fishing, South Korea has signed an international agreement, the International Convention on the Prevention and Control of Illegal Fishing (PSMA) has been incorporated into domestic law. Furthermore, import regulations are being strengthened by utilizing systems to improve traceability, such as the Catch Documentation Scheme (CDS)*.
We also work with NGOs to implement measures to improve working conditions for migrant fishermen, and promote international capacity building to implement these measures.
In 2020, Japan enacted the Fisheries Distribution Rationalization Act as a measure against IUU fishing, which will be implemented in 2022 as the first distribution-stage regulation, although the number of target fish species is still small. In 2024, the Fisheries Distribution Rationalization Act will be partially revised in conjunction with the Fisheries Act to strengthen regulations. Regarding human rights issues related to forced labor, the government believes that it is its role to create an environment in which companies can easily address them, rather than leaving it up to companies, and has therefore established industry-wide guidelines on human rights-related due diligence,Reference material for practical implementation of responsible supply chains and other initiativesThe Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has launched and is promoting this initiative.
Taiwan established landing declaration regulations in 2015 as a first step towards domestic traceability, and revised the regulations in 2017 to reflect the current situation, such as imposing penalties for failure to declare for the second time onwards. Landing declarations can be easily made through a dedicated app, and in addition to making declarations, you can also check the total catch volume and remaining catch quotas nationwide. In particular, for glass eels, young fish are caught and then grown into adults at farms and exported, and plans are underway to record the catch volume and other information through the app.
I am promotingRISSC (Resilient, Inclusive and Sustainable Supply Chains)The project also targets aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming in the Philippines. Until now, labor issues in the fishing industry have focused on the fishing industry, but aquaculture also faces problems such as low wages, child labor, overtime work, and lack of social security, and business operators lack understanding of these issues. It is necessary to build trust between buyers and producers and take measures.
As part of our efforts to eradicate IUU fishing, we have been providing explanations and confirmations to relevant businesses to ensure strict compliance with the Fisheries Distribution Optimization Act, from its issuance to its enforcement. We have also been obtaining and confirming proper harvest certificates for the "specified second-class aquatic animals and plants (four fish species)" that we mainly handle. Furthermore, as a response based on the United Nations "Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights," we have established our ownAeon Supplier Code of ConductWe have established a training program and provide training to our development product suppliers.
Regarding glass eels, which will be subject to the Fisheries Distribution Optimization Act from 2025, Wei-Hsiang from Taiwan, which is on the export side, reported that they are not yet managed under the Fisheries Act in Japan, and that he is working with the Japan Fisheries Agency to establish a transparent management system and laws.
Mr. Nakatani from Japan, who is on the importing side, said that glass eels are an expensive commodity, but at the same time, there are many businesses involved, so he feels that it is difficult to regulate them, and that there are also parts of the international catch volume that are unclear, so it is important for Taiwan and the four main importing countries, Japan, China, and South Korea, to discuss and proceed with investigations and measures.He also pointed out that it is necessary to consider whether regulations on human rights issues will lead to true relief for victims, while also taking into account their compatibility with distribution.
In response, Matsutani said that as a retailer, although eel resource management is difficult, he believes that if this case serves as a catalyst and all parties in the supply chain take a conscious approach, things will definitely move in a positive direction.
As such, activities aimed at eradicating IUU fishing and violations of worker human rights are being carried out in countries around the world. It is hoped that countries and organizations will continue to work together to expand these activities to cover a wide range of fish species, both in fisheries and aquaculture.
◾️You can view the session contents in the archive here.
◾️Click here for other sessions on IUU fishing risks and human rights issues in the seafood industry
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