The Supply Chain Risk Project is a collaboration between the World Economic Forum’s Friends of Ocean Action, FishWise, Global Fishing Watch, and Stanford’s Center for Ocean Solutions, which aims to provide companies with accessible and actionable data about their IUU fishing risks down to the vessel level. This project integrates and standardizes disparate data sources into a single platform and automates the analyses, allowing companies (and their partners) to better identify and mitigate IUU fishing risks and strengthen existing risk assessment and due diligence processes. Through pilot projects with seafood companies, we have demonstrated the importance of collecting and using vessel-level data in IUU fishing risk assessments. Unfortunately, many times companies are lacking the data needed to effectively analyze risk. Data gaps have not been filled through industry-wide action largely because companies are at different stages of collecting and handling supply chain data in their journey to implement full traceability systems. This is exacerbated by limitations on data shared by governments about vessel registrations, activities, and violations that could support industry in ensuring that their suppliers meet regulations.
This roundtable discussion will showcase representatives from seafood companies and coalitions who will share their journeys to implement full traceability systems, with a focus on collecting vessel-level data, as well as their lessons learned from engaging with governments to improve access to supply chain data. Civil society representatives will discuss how industry vessel data can also support fisheries management and be a key step in the journey to understanding vessel operations from a labor perspective.
