Seafood Task Force Holds Biggest Ever Annual Summit as Its Global Footprint Grows - Sep '25
The Seafood Task Force held its biggest ever annual summit in Bangkok, attended by over 200 delegates representing well in excess of $10bn revenue in the tuna and shrimp supply chain, as it marked its tenth anniversary.
The STF is continuing to grow its global footprint with 9 new processors,3 new importers, and the first European retailer joining in the last 12 months, and the first hospitality member, due to be announced imminently. Since last year’s summit, new members have joined from Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
Two years after launching in India, the membership there now accounts for 35% of total shrimp production and 80% of feed production.A10-point action plan for India has been implemented, including a train-the-trainer program focusing on child labor and restriction of movement.
Highlights from the last 12 months reported to the Summit included: the approval of a grievance process for tuna vessels, which is currently in its pilot implementation; a shrimp traceability code of conduct being implemented for Thailand, India, and Vietnam; the training of more than 100 Thailand PIPO (Port-In Port-Out) inspectors in human trafficking detection; the engagement with the Indian Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) for industry improvement; the taking of initial steps to address labor concerns in Vietnam; and an environmental code for aquaculture, now at drafting stage.
The STF Board is conducting a strategic review of its activities to set priorities for the next five years, with short-term goals for the next 18 months to be agreed in the coming weeks. A new value proposition will focus on the three pillars of operational efficiency; regulatory readiness; and collective credibility.
Co-chair Supavadee Chotikajan told the Summit: “Our goal is to become indispensable, to move from projects to platforms, from initiatives to institutions, providing operational assurance at scale. We are industry-led, from vessel to plate, and operationally grounded. We build systems that make change happen”.
Jewlya Lynn, a systems change researcher, presented the findings of an independent report commissioned by the NGO Humanity United, which traced reforms in Thailand over the last decade. The research found that the STF had been an important facilitator for cross-sector collaboration, enabling new processes, such as audit protocols and codes of conduct to be tested at scale.
She said: “Change happened because powerful leaders were at the table. Many companies have changed practice, and you can see the impact on workers. The industry has created the opportunity for change, though there is more to be done, especially on vessels”.
The Summit focused heavily on responsible recruitment at the request of its members. Recent research found that Indonesian migrant workers make up 62% of all foreign migrant fishers in Taiwan's distant-water tuna fleet. Seven different ministries and multiple regional authorities in Indonesia have responsibilities, with 360 agencies working for the government, highlighting the scale of the challenge. The STF is running fair and ethical recruitment training for agencies and government officials. The group also agreed a responsible recruitment vision, strategy and workplan.
Dignity in Work for All, a global labor and human rights organization, is developing assessment protocols and tools to give visibility of STF members’ approach. A pilot scheme is under way amongst processors, and more than half have so far been identified as “low risk”. The project will identify the tools used by low-risk members, supporting all businesses to develop robust management systems.
The STF’s working groups reported back at the end of the two-day Summit on their agreed focus areas, including:
The tuna group has selected an external provider to develop a grievance mechanism for Indonesian crew in Taiwanese-flagged tuna vessels, with the objective of building a scalable solution. The Board has approved a new, more comprehensive approach to STF’s vessel audit program and plans are being drawn up for its implementation. The group adopted an STF tuna traceability protocol for non-ISSF members.
In India, the priority will be defining policies and protocols for factories and farms to address gaps in documentation and standardize employment contracts. Monitoring will take place to test their effectiveness, and HR personnel will be educated on compliance expectations.
For the Thai shrimp industry, a short-term priority will be further capacity building, reviewing and updating contracts and cooperating with the Thai Department of Fisheries (DoF) to set best practice and introduce a confidential worker feedback system. Collaboration with DoF will ensure farm safety is included in the annual Good Aquaculture Practices (GAP) audit. The Summit also marks a significant step in accelerating STF’s work with vessels in Thailand by formally engaging for the first time with the National Fisheries Association of Thailand (NFAT) for future collaborations. The STF will also continue to support recruitment agencies to complete On the Level (OTL) certification, developing a stepping stone program to support this goal.
Executive director Martin Thurley told the Summit: “The STF remains a unique industry platform. By bringing vessel owners, traders, processors, brands and retailers together at the same table, we can have the hard conversations needed to help the industry move forward together.
STF’s on-the-ground presence has led to it being a major change agent in Thailand over the last 10 years and we now working on extending our impact to other markets”.