By Alyssa Withrow

A Journey of Traceability and Transparency: From its inception in 2021, the Hy-Vee Public Tuna Fishing Vessel Name List has been a testament to Hy-Vee, Inc. and FishWise’s commitment to transparency and social responsibility in seafood sourcing. The decision to publicly disclose a list of tuna vessels marked a groundbreaking move within the U.S. retail sector, addressing concerns regarding illegal fishing and labor rights abuses head-on.

This initiative has grown significantly over the years. In 2022, the inclusion of data from both national brand and private label tuna suppliers provided a more comprehensive understanding of Hy-Vee’s tuna supply chains. However, it was the development of FishWise’s new Vessel Risk Dashboards in 2023 that truly transformed our approach.

The Vessel Risk Dashboards revolutionized FishWise’s ability to support companies in identifying and mitigating risks associated with illegal fishing activities and labor rights violations. By leveraging advanced tools and data analytics, including Global Fishing Watch’s Vessel Viewer, we analyze each fishing vessel’s activity by cross-referencing its on-the-water behavior with multiple databases to pinpoint potential areas of concern. Insights gained from this analysis are used to inform supplier engagement activities as part of Hy-Vee’s approach to seafood supply chain due diligence.

As we move forward, the Hy-Vee Public Tuna Vessel Name List stands as a beacon of collaboration and innovation in the seafood industry. With the Vessel Risk Dashboards leading the charge, we are poised to continue our journey towards greater traceability, transparency, and responsibility. Our hope is that other retailers will follow suit, joining us in our quest for a more sustainable future for our oceans and communities.

Many tuna supply chains are considered higher risk for environmental impacts, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and human rights and labor abuses. The UN Legal Counsel has spoken out on the critical need to effectively manage tuna stocks to prevent overfishing. Furthermore, the intricate nature of tuna fishing exposes workers to potential human rights abuses. Read more.