Canned Tuna and Forced Labour

Buying a tin of tuna? You might be supporting forced labour.  

A new report by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union links Bumble Bee canned tuna to fishing vessels accused of exploiting workers. Between 2019 and 2024, 10 Indonesian fishers filed complaints about 12 Taiwanese-flagged ships. Four of those vessels supplied tuna to Bumble Bee - one of the biggest seafood brands in the U.S.

What does that mean? Workers catching the tuna in those cans have reported brutal conditions, deception, and even debt bondage. One fisher described working until he fainted - multiple times. Neither Bumble Bee nor the vessel operators have responded to the allegations.

What’s happening on these fishing boats?  

- Deception and entrapment – Workers were lied to about pay and had their identity documents taken, making it nearly impossible to escape.

- Debt bondage – Over 90% of migrant fishers reported being trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation.

- Illegal fishing – Half of the vessels were linked to illegal activities like shark finning, fishing in protected areas, and secret transfers at sea.

It’s not just about workers - it’s about the whole industry.  

The fishing industry isn’t just a disaster for marine life. It’s built on exploitation - of fish, humans, and the oceans themselves. Reports of forced labor, trafficking, and inhumane working conditions are common, especially for migrant workers. And let’s not forget the environmental cost: collapsing fish populations, habitat destruction, and species being pushed to the brink.  

The solution? Stop funding this mess. Plant-based alternatives exist. The oceans don’t need to be emptied, and no one should suffer - human or nonhuman - for a sandwich.