Thai Union launches sustainability consultation

International seafood supplier Thai Union Group (TU) has announced a consultation program with key stakeholders around the world will get underway next month aimed at shaping its future sustainability action plans.

As part of its Sea Change Sustainability Strategy, the four-month consultation will run through to the end of June and will engage customers, partners, NGOs, industry organizations, regulators, policymakers and suppliers. Feedback will be through a combination of face-to-face meetings and online engagement.

A microsite providing top-line details of Sea Change will be launched at the same time and updated with full information of the Sea Change program and initiatives in July.

“We have been working with partners and NGOs in Thailand on improving labor conditions for Thai and migrant supply chain workers and have found that partnership and open engagement with all parties delivers practical and meaningful improvements,” said Dr Darian McBain, TU’s global director of sustainable development.

“We are now extending this approach to key international stakeholders across a broad range of issues facing the global fishing industry so that our sustainability action plans benefit from expertise and knowledge beyond our own.”

McBain said the company developed Sea Change to address pressing needs in the Thai fishing and global seafood industries. It worked closely with NGOs including Project Issara, the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) and the Labour Promotion Network (LPN) during its first stage addressing labor rights. TU now wants input from the wider industry, intergovernmental and NGO community in shaping other action plans to address issues including marine conservation, traceability, and illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing.

“We all have an interest in ensuring seas are fished sustainably now and in the future. This can only be done when seafood is sourced from vessels which observe all laws and regulations, and operate legally and responsibly. In addition, our workers, wherever they may be, are entitled to safe, legal and secure employment. These issues will be addressed by our Sea Change strategy,” he said.

Sea Change comprises four key programs: Responsible Sourcing, Marine Conservation, Safe and Legal Labor, and Caring for Our Communities. Each has goals and a supporting 2020 action plan.