FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Santa Cruz, California (June 29, 2022) – On Monday, June 27, 2022, President Joe Biden signed a National Security Memorandum to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and related harmful fishing practices. The memo acknowledged that the complex nature of IUU fishing often demands an integrated and collaborative approach, and promised to “use the full range of existing conservation, labor, trade, economic, diplomatic, law enforcement, and national security authorities” to tackle these challenges. 

In response to this breaking news, Joan Eads, Interim Executive Director for FishWise, stated, “FishWise is grateful for President Biden’s continued commitment to tackling IUU fishing and labor abuses that harm vulnerable workers and honest companies. We are especially pleased to see that the President’s memo provides a clear mandate for the U.S. government to promote labor and human rights as an integral part of combating IUU fishing. This certainly aligns with our holistic approach to sustainability, underpinning our belief that the health of people and ecosystems are inextricably linked.”

While this is a great step forward, FishWise would also strongly urge the U.S. government to give priority to annual progress reporting and transparency about interagency and other collaborations. As an organization that works with diverse stakeholders on these issues, FishWise believes that government efforts are most effective when companies, civil society, and workers are all involved in developing solutions. We look forward to identifying future areas of collaboration and contributing our expertise in traceability and social responsibility in seafood supply chains.

To visit President Biden’s full memorandum, visit here. 

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FishWise is a non-profit sustainable seafood consultancy based in Santa Cruz, CA, that takes a holistic approach to sustainability to protect ocean health and workers’ rights. Offering expertise trusted by labor and human rights and conservation organizations, seafood buyers and suppliers, and government representatives, FishWise offers a range of services that empower businesses and a diverse community of collaborators to lead the transition to a sustainable, ethically responsible seafood industry. Please visit FishWise.org and follow FishWise’s work on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter for more information.