Today, Representative Jared Huffman (D-CA), Chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife, and Representative Garret Graves (R-LA) introduced the Illegal Fishing and Forced Labor Prevention Act to combat illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing and human rights abuses in the seafood supply chain.
In response, WWF has issued the following statement from Roberta Elias, director, policy and government affairs:
“Illegal fishing harms more than just our oceans, it has far-reaching impacts on our communities and domestic jobs. Fishing will never be truly sustainable if it comes with a tragic human cost.
“The world needs a way to break the link between lucrative economies and international illegal fishing, and it needs leadership from the largest seafood markets to box out this illicit trade. This legislation is a groundbreaking effort to confront the use of forced labor in seafood supply chains that will increase transparency and ultimately hold accountable those who put stolen profits above people and planet.”
