Whole Foods Market has unveiled a pioneering Seafood Code of Conduct, reinforcing its commitment to human rights and social responsibility throughout its global seafood supply chain. The initiative sets a new benchmark for ethical labour practices, offering stronger protections for fishers, vessel crews, and processing workers.
Building on its well-established Quality Standards, Whole Foods Market is raising the bar for the seafood industry, ensuring that suppliers adhere to clear, enforceable standards on recruitment, working conditions, and supply chain transparency. The new policy is designed to combat exploitative labour practices, improve communication access for workers at sea, and advocate for fair and safe working environments.
“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, CEO of Whole Foods Market. “This isn’t just a one-time announcement — it’s an ongoing effort to raise industry standards for human rights, responsible sourcing, and transparency. Working together with our industry peers, we can create a fairer, safer, and more ethical seafood industry for everyone.”
Setting a New Standard for Social Responsibility
Whole Foods Market’s Seafood Code of Conduct draws from internationally recognized frameworks, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the International Labour Organization’s (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention. These principles guide the Code’s stringent expectations for suppliers, vessel owners, processors, and distributors, reinforcing the company’s long-term mission to drive ethical improvements in the seafood industry.
The initiative also expands upon the broader Whole Foods Market Supplier Code of Conduct, ensuring that workers across the seafood supply chain benefit from enhanced protections and better working conditions.
According to Kelley K. Bell, Social Responsibility Division Director at FishWise, “Whole Foods Market’s Seafood Code of Conduct is a cutting-edge framework that prioritizes worker rights, with explicit commitments on crucial issues such as ethical recruitment and communication access on vessels. This is an important step towards industry-wide improvements.”
Key Provisions of the Seafood Code of Conduct
Whole Foods Market’s new policy applies to fresh, frozen, and canned seafood suppliers, including sushi. The Code introduces robust commitments across several key areas:
One of the most significant aspects of the policy is its focus on working hours and time at sea. The guidelines align with the ILO Fishing Convention standards, ensuring that crew members receive adequate rest. It also mandates that all fishing vessels must return to port at least every eleven months, preventing workers from being at sea indefinitely without respite.
Another crucial area is ethical recruitment, with the Code explicitly prohibiting recruitment fees. Workers should never have to pay for the opportunity to work, a practice that has historically left many in cycles of debt and exploitation. Suppliers are also required to provide clear and fair employment contracts, ensuring transparency in wages, job roles, and working conditions.
Recognizing the isolation that can come with working at sea, the policy makes communication access for crew members a priority. Suppliers must provide workers with channels to contact their families, NGOs, or worker representatives. Whole Foods Market is also calling on vessels to install Wi-Fi, a move that would significantly improve the well-being of fishers and ensure greater transparency at sea.
Worker health and safety is another fundamental component of the Code. The policy establishes strict requirements for safety training, personal protective equipment (PPE), and access to medical care. It also ensures that crew members have access to sufficient food and water, preventing situations where workers are forced to ration basic necessities.
By implementing these measures, Whole Foods Market aims to address systemic labour issues and promote fair treatment across its supply chain.
Raising the Bar for the Seafood Industry
Whole Foods Market has long been a leader in sustainable and responsible seafood sourcing. This latest initiative reinforces the company’s role as a driving force for change in an industry often plagued by worker exploitation and opaque supply chains.
Beyond its internal commitments, Whole Foods Market actively advocates for stronger global labour protections. Most recently, it worked with Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch to push the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) to strengthen labour protections, including the use of electronic monitoring of vessel activity. The company has also supported measures to enhance crew welfare and implement science-based targets for tuna stock management, ensuring that sustainability goes hand in hand with ethical sourcing.
While Whole Foods Market is leading by example, it recognizes that industry-wide change requires collective action. The company encourages other retailers, suppliers, and policymakers to adopt similar protections and invest in worker welfare.
By working together, the seafood industry can ensure that all workers are treated with dignity and respect, while consumers can continue to enjoy seafood with confidence in its ethical sourcing.
