UK Seafood Imports Face Scrutiny Amid Human Rights and Illegal Fishing Concerns
Forty-four UK parliamentarians are urging ministers to strengthen controls on seafood imports, citing concerns that weak enforcement is allowing illegally and exploitatively sourced fish products into the country. The call for action follows the publication of a report highlighting the continued entry of seafood linked to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and serious human rights abuses.
In a letter addressed to environment secretary Emma Reynolds and fisheries minister Dame Angela Eagle, the Members of Parliament (MPs) emphasized findings from a new report by the Coalition for Fisheries Transparency (CFT). The report details how seafood connected to illegal fishing practices and human rights violations continues to reach the UK market.
A central argument presented by the MPs is that safeguards have significantly declined since the UK’s departure from the European Union, and that monitoring of imports has largely ceased. This lack of oversight, they contend, leaves the UK unable to accurately determine the origins of its seafood.
The CFT report reveals that more than a quarter of UK seafood imports originate from countries considered high-risk, including China and Russia. Despite this, scrutiny of these imports has been minimal. According to the report, only four consignments from China have been refused entry since 2012, and none from Russia since 2021, suggesting a lack of rigorous inspection.
With the government planning to update catch certificate requirements in the coming year, the MPs see a crucial opportunity for reform. They are urging ministers to adopt the CFT’s recommendations, which include bolstering traceability measures, increasing the frequency and thoroughness of checks, and implementing safeguards to protect both consumers and the UK fishing industry from unfair competition stemming from illegal and unethical practices.
Steve Trent, CEO and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), stated, “For years, the UK’s import control system has been absent without leave. This inaction prioritises cheap, tainted seafood over the interests of UK consumers and fishing communities.” He further emphasized that the current situation “enables the ongoing degradation of marine habitats and abuses of the crew,” but stressed that change is possible, noting the clear demand for action expressed by the 44 cross-party parliamentarians.
Investigations by the EJF have uncovered instances of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, alongside serious human rights abuses, on board Chinese distant-water fishing vessels. These include vessels operated by Zhejiang Ocean Family Co., Ltd., a company that has previously been linked to supply chains serving UK supermarkets. The UK receives approximately 1,000 catch certificates annually from China, representing around 58,000 tonnes of seafood, yet the limited number of refused consignments raises concerns about the effectiveness of current screening processes.
The report also highlights a concerning lack of verification of catch certificates from Russia, another nation frequently cited for illegal fishing activities. No Russian catch certificates were verified or refused between 2021 and 2023, further fueling concerns about the integrity of the UK’s seafood import controls.
According to findings detailed in a report by Food Manufacture, checks on seafood imports have dropped to “alarmingly low levels” since Brexit, leaving authorities “effectively blind” to the conditions under which the seafood is caught.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Open Seas have warned that the decline in import controls following Brexit has created a regulatory gap, increasing the risk of seafood linked to human rights violations and environmental destruction ending up on British plates. This situation not only threatens the sustainability of ocean ecosystems but also undermines the ethical standards expected by UK consumers.
The call for strengthened import controls comes as the UK government prepares to update its catch certificate requirements. The CFT and EJF are urging ministers to seize this opportunity to implement more robust measures that will ensure the seafood supply chain is transparent, sustainable, and free from exploitation.
