Whole Foods Strengthens Seafood Guidelines
Whole Foods Market has unveiled its new Seafood Code of Conduct that reinforces the company’s commitment to safeguarding the human rights and welfare of workers throughout its global seafood supply chain.
Building on the company’s industry-leading Quality Standards, the new policy strengthens protections for fishers and vessel crew and sets a higher bar for ethical labor practices and supply chain transparency, company officials said.
Whole Foods Market’s Seafood Code of Conduct draws from globally recognized principles, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention. The Code establishes standards that all seafood suppliers — from vessel owners to processors and distributors — are expected to follow. These new standards build on the broader Whole Foods Market Supplier Code of Conduct and are 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 applies 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 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 prioritize installing Wi-Fi.
- Health and Safety on Vessels: Requires safety training, PPE, medical care, and sufficient food and water for all crew members.
Most recently, Whole Foods Market worked with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch urging the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to adopt stronger labor protections, including the use of electronic monitoring (EM) for vessel activity, measures to enhance crew welfare, and science-based targets for tuna stock management.
For more information on the new seafood standards, visit https://www.wholefoodsmarket.
