United Kingdom | Human Rights Abuses and Risks

Last Updated: Aug 2024

EVIDENCE | Forced labor, child labor, and/or human trafficking in seafood

Source Details
U.S. Department of Labor
2024 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor
Not profiled in report
U.S. Department of Labor
2023 Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor
Not profiled in report
U.S. Department of State
2024 Trafficking in Persons Report
Traffickers force adults and children to work on fishing boats and in other industries. Traffickers increasingly exploit victims, especially migrants, in the fishing industry, including through debt bondage, physical violence, or unsafe working conditions.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
Seafood Social Risk Tool Profile
No country risk profile available
Additional civil society organization reports documenting human rights abuses:
2022, International Transport Workers’ Federation, A One Way Ticket to Labour Exploitation
2019, Environmental Justice Foundation, Blood and Water

RISK FACTORS

Risk Factor​ Status Details
Flag of Convenience
(International Transport Workers Federation)
No Flags of Convenience are connected to the occurrence of human trafficking and forced labor in fishing. Vessels registered to Flag of Convenience states may lack a legitimate connection to the flag state and may be subject to less rigorous management and oversight by the flag state.
Active yellow or red card for failing to tackle illegal fishing
(European Union)
No The European Union gives countries yellow and red cards for failing in their requirements under international law to take action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. There is evidence linking IUU fishing to an increased risk of human trafficking and forced labor on board fishing vessels.
Failure to ratify key treaties and international labor conventions

Ratifying key treaties and international labor conventions indicates a country’s commitment to uphold international standards.

  • Port State Measures Agreement: Ratified
  • ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention: Ratified
  • ILO Core Labor Conventions: Not ratified 1 of 10
    • C155 - Occupational Safety and Health Convention