USA | Whole Foods Market has announced its new Seafood Code of Conduct, reinforcing its commitment to safeguard workers' human rights and welfare throughout its global seafood supply chain.
Building on the company’s industry-leading Quality Standards, the new policy strengthened fishers and vessel crew protections and set a higher bar for ethical labour practices and supply chain transparency.
Whole Foods Market’s Seafood Code of Conduct drew from globally recognised principles, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labour Organisation’s (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention.
The Code has established clear standards that all seafood suppliers, from vessel owners to processors and distributors, have been expected to follow. These new standards were built on the broader Whole Foods Market Supplier Code of Conduct. They were part of the company’s long-term mission to promote social responsibility and continuous improvement in its supply chain.
“Leading with purpose has always been at the heart of Whole Foods Market, and our new Seafood Code of Conduct is an extension of that commitment,” said Jason Buechel, chief executive officer of Whole Foods Market.
“This isn’t just a one-time announcement — it’s an ongoing effort to raise the industry standard for human rights, responsible sourcing, and supply chain transparency. Working together with our industry peers, we can create a fairer, safer, and more ethical seafood industry for everyone.”
The new Seafood Code of Conduct will be applied to fresh, frozen, and canned seafood suppliers, which includes sushi, and includes commitments across key areas such as:
- Maximum Working Hours and Time at Sea: Aligns work and rest hours with ILO Fishing Convention standards and establishes that all fishing vessels must visit the port every 11 months.
- Ethical Recruitment: Prohibits recruitment fees and mandates clear, fair employment contracts.
- Communication access for Crew Members: Mandates crew access to communication channels while at sea to contact family, NGOs, and worker representatives and calls for vessels to prioritise installing Wi-Fi.
- Health and Safety on Vessels: Requires safety training, PPE, medical care, and sufficient food and water for all crew members.
“Congratulations to Whole Foods Market for delivering a cutting-edge Seafood Code of Conduct that focuses on the worker’s needs and rights, explicitly outlining their stance on key, emerging topics, including responsible recruitment and Wi-Fi on vessels,” said Kelley K. Bell, social responsibility division director at Fishwise.
“There should be no confusion about the expectations of those that are a part of the Whole Foods Market seafood supply chain.”
Whole Foods Market has long been a leader in responsible seafood sourcing, collaborating with fisheries that uphold high standards for sustainability. It has recognised its unique role in the food system to address human rights abuses in the seafood industry.
It has continued to advocate for stronger traceability standards and investments in enhanced communication for fishing crews, such as Wi-Fi onboard vessels, to achieve a greater impact.
Most recently, Whole Foods Market worked with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to adopt stronger labour protections, including the use of electronic monitoring (EM) for vessel activity, measures to enhance crew welfare, and science-based targets for tuna stock management.
The company was also encouraged by other retailers, suppliers, and industry leaders who adopted similar protections to create a more ethical and transparent seafood industry.
By working together, the industry can help ensure workers across the seafood sector have been treated with the dignity and respect they deserve. Whole Foods Market has continued to set an example through critical actions like the Seafood Code of Conduct to support and implement higher standards that help drive meaningful industry change.
