MSC’s ‘blue tick’ scheme creates illusion of ethically sourced fish, study claims

A recent study has raised serious concerns about the Marine Stewardship Council’s (MSC) “blue tick” sustainability certification, revealing that labour abuses persist on many fishing vessels bearing the label. Researchers found that one in five vessels where crew reported abuses to the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) over the past five years were certified as sustainable by the MSC. The study identified 80 cases of labour violations on 72 vessels across 25 MSC-certified fisheries worldwide, including serious allegations such as forced labour, human trafficking, and forced criminalisation. The abuses documented ranged from unpaid or delayed wages and excessive working hours to violence, harassment, denial of medical care, and debt bondage. These incidents occurred in diverse fisheries, from North Sea haddock operations in Scotland to tuna fisheries in the Pacific islands. The ITF, which commissioned the study, noted that the reported cases likely underestimate the true scale of the problem, as their data covered only 354 vessels and did not include reports received by other maritime authorities and unions. While the MSC’s “blue tick” label aims to signal environmentally sustainable fishing practices to consumers, the organisation maintains that it does not provide social assurance or assess labour conditions. Critics argue that this narrow focus on environmental sustainability risks obscuring human rights abuses, potentially misleading consumers into believing the seafood is ethically sourced. Chris Williams, ITF fisheries coordinator, warned that the MSC’s approach could mask ongoing exploitation and urged for greater scrutiny of labour practices within certified fisheries. The findings highlight a significant gap in the seafood certification system, underscoring the need for integrated standards that encompass both environmental sustainability and social responsibility. With an estimated 128,000 crew worldwide trapped in forced labour on fishing vessels, according to the International Labour Organization, addressing these abuses is crucial for ensuring truly ethical seafood supply chains.