February 11, 2022 Washington, DC
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has determined that a Taiwanese fishing vessel, the Da Wang, used forced labor in its operations. The agency’s investigation uncovered evidence of all 11 indicators developed by the International Labor Organization to assess forced labor conditions aboard the vessel. As a result, all seafood harvested by the vessel will be seized unless an objection is raised.
The Da Wang, which is owned and operated by the Taiwanese company Yong Feng Fishery Ltd, was named in Greenpeace Southeast Asia’s 2019 report, “Seabound: The Journey to Modern Slavery on the High Seas.” In a testimony, a former crew worker stated:
“When the Fishing Master was angry, he hit my friend’s head near his left ear. After that he was forced to continue working until the work was finished and only then was he allowed to rest. In the morning when we woke up for breakfast, we found him dead in his room.”[1]
Da Wang has also been linked as a supplier to Taiwanese tuna trading company FCF, which owns US consumer brand, Bumblebee Seafoods.
J.Park, Senior Oceans Campaigner for Greenpeace USA, said:
“We are profoundly disturbed to learn of the extensive labor violations discovered by the CBP on the Da Wang, and the horrible conditions they imposed on vulnerable fishers. Unfortunately, this situation is not an isolated incident, and many other workers in the distant water fishing industry are currently suffering through the same experience. Companies like Bumblebee have a responsibility to ensure their supply chains are free from human rights violations. This Finding by the CBP is a step in the right direction to hold them accountable. We are calling on the Biden administration to take action to ensure all seafood that enters the U.S. is fully traceable and from verifiable legal sources.”
Yuton Lee, Oceans Campaigner from Greenpeace East Asia’s Taipei Office, said:
“The US government is doing what the Taiwan government isn’t: cracking down on labor and human rights abuses in Taiwan’s distant water fishing industry. Whilst small steps have been taken to improve the situation, clearly the Taiwan government is failing to take proactive measures to stop crime and other illegal activities coming from the supply side. As one of the largest distant water fishing economies, Taiwan needs to know that by failing to take proper action, it not only hurts vulnerable workers from Southeast Asia who are usually roped onto these vessels, and consumers around the world, but also our own fishing industry and reputation.”
In July 2020, the Da Wang was handed a Withhold Release Order (WRO) by the CBP, denying entry of its goods into the US, pending further investigation and conclusive evidence. This formal Finding indicates that the CBP’s investigation into the matter has revealed conclusive evidence of forced labor on the vessel.[2]
Notes
[1] Greenpeace Southeast Asia, “Seabound: The Journey to Modern Slavery on the High Seas”, p32.
[2] See the CBP’s FAQ for the definition of WROs and Findings