It’s Time to Reform the Hawaiian Longline Fishing Sector’s Use of Undocumented Workers

Seven to eight hundred undocumented foreign workers are currently used by the Hawaiian longline fishing fleet that catches primarily tuna and swordfish and these workers lack basic fair labor protections due to a federal loophole that was engineered by past Hawaiian congressmen.   It is now time to quickly reform this practice because the workers’ pay is typically much less than federal minimum wage, they cannot set foot on U.S. soil, and they are at very high risk of suffering all the abuses that are associated with human trafficking.

Because these trafficked foreign workers (mostly from S.E. Asia) have no visas and their passports and identification documents are confiscated by the vessel owners/captains, they are not able to ever leave the fishing boats.  This de facto permanent detention goes against the basic human right of mobility and provides very little ability for workers to protest or seek relief from unfair labor practices and dangerous workplace conditions.

Just this week the FBI concluded its 10^th annual Operation Cross Country in which it arrested 349 individuals for human trafficking for the U.S. and international sex trade.  While the sex trade both locally and internationally is certainly more abhorrent than the Hawaiian longline fishing sector’s labor trafficking, our seafood industry cannot tolerate any longer the condition of employment that they impose on their undocumented foreign workers.

The situation is simply unsustainable and not in the best interest of our seafood industry and seafood lovers everywhere.  All our efforts to promote seafood as the healthiest and most environmentally friendly animal protein on Earth will ring morally hollow if we don’t act now to stop human rights abuses and unfair labor issues in our own backyard and around the globe. 

It is definitely time to reform the Hawaiian longline fishing sector’s use of undocumented workers.

Sincerely,

David Glaubke, Director of Sustainability Initiatives

The Increasing Availability of 4 Star BAP Certified Shrimp

Sea Port is continuing to advance the environmental and social sustainability of farm raised shrimp by seeking to offer 4 Star BAP Certified Shrimp as they start becoming more available in the market place.

For years Sea Port has been a proud governing member of the Global Aquaculture Alliance that operates the BAP (best aquaculture practices) certification program.

Explanation of the BAP Star certification system: Each Star certifies that a specific supply chain activity for producing farmed raised shrimp is done with the best available aquaculture practices that minimize environmental impacts, respect workers’ rights and produce wholesome products.  The four specified areas are the processing plants, the farms, the hatcheries, and the feed mills.

Four Stars:  Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant, BAP-certified farm(s) only, BAP-certified hatchery only and BAP-certified feed mill only

Three Stars:  Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant, BAP-certified farm(s) only and BAP-certified hatchery and/or feed mill only

Two Stars:  Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant and BAP-certified farm(s) only

One Star:  Product produced by a BAP-certified processing plant

Sea Port is an avid supporter of all the Stars of the Global Aquaculture Alliance’s BAP certification program.  Please consider sourcing your shrimp using the BAP Stars as your guideline and join Sea Port in helping to advance sustainable aquaculture.            

       Sincerely, David Glaubke - Director of Sustainability Initiatives - Sea Port

Let’s All Go Blue! During NATIONAL October Seafood Month

Within the last couple of years, “Sustainable global seafood production” has emerged as the world’s “poster child” for advancing the environmental stewardship of our precious blue planet.

During this October National Seafood Month, how can you contribute to this critical campaign?

The answer:  Simply commit to eat at least two responsibly sourced seafood meals/week for the month of October (and beyond).

Sea Port’s Go Blue! Initiative has always championed the consumption of seafood to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship because we strongly believe that both responsible wild fisheries and aquaculture production processes are the most environmentally friendly of all the global animal protein production systems.  We also strongly believe in the unique nutritional benefits that seafood offers to all age groups.

There is no easier action you can take to contribute to making our world more sustainable now and for future generations than to simply increase your seafood consumption.  In doing so, you will also be treating yourself to some of the healthiest and most delicious food on Earth!

Let’s all commit during this October National Seafood Month to increase our seafood consumption.  We will celebrate together as we become a part of the solution to advance the environmental stewardship of our wondrous blue planet while also improving our personal health.

Go Blue! – For Our Environment – For Sustainability – For Our Health

Sincerely yours,

David Glaubke, Director of Sustainability Initiatives