Four Indonesian fishermen are suing U.S.-based seafood giant Bumble Bee. They allege they were trapped on Chinese-owned vessels, subject to beatings, and forced to work under inhumane conditions. The lawsuit, filed under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, could set the precedent for holding major seafood companies accountable for forced labor in their supply chains.
Forced to work, trapped at sea
The fishermen, all from villages in Indonesia, report that captains subjected them to violent abuse and forbade them from leaving their vessels. They describe how captains beat them, denied them medical care, and trapped them in debt bondage—conditions that meet the legal definition of forced labor.
One plaintiff, Akhmad, says a captain struck him with a metal hook and forced him to keep working even after he suffered a deep leg injury. Another, Syafi’i, sustained severe burns, but captains refused him medical care and ordered him back to work to “pay for his food.” According to their attorneys, when the fishermen attempted to go on strike, captains threatened them with fines and further punishment.
The longline fishing vessels they worked on operated at sea for extended periods. This forced them to rely on supply ships to bring provisions and collect their catch. This system, called transshipment, makes it easier for abusive captains to keep workers trapped without oversight. The lawsuit argues that Bumble Bee knowingly profited from these exploitative conditions.
The Independent reports,
“Bumble Bee had been warned of inhumane conditions in its supply chain over the years. In 2020, accounts of abusive conditions and forced labor prompted the U.S. to halt imports from a Taiwan-based fishing vessel that reportedly supplied the global tuna trading company that acquired Bumble Bee Seafoods that same year.”
Despite these red flags, the lawsuit claims Bumble Bee continued sourcing tuna from vessels using exploitative labor practices. The plaintiffs seek compensation for their unpaid wages and abuse, as well as systemic reforms to prevent further forced labor.
A broken system fueling forced labor
The global fishing industry is plagued by forced labor and human trafficking. Isolated at sea for months or years, migrant workers frequently report conditions akin to modern slavery—working grueling hours, enduring physical violence, and facing threats if they attempt to leave.
Congress strengthened protections against forced labor in seafood supply chains in 2016, following an Associated Press investigation that uncovered slave-caught seafood reaching U.S. markets. Yet, enforcement remains inconsistent, and major corporations continue profiting from opaque, abusive supply chains.
Holding corporations accountable
The lawsuit against Bumble Bee could be a turning point in corporate responsibility for forced labor at sea. The plaintiffs are calling for seafood companies to ban transshipment, require medical care and Wi-Fi access on vessels, and ensure direct hiring of workers instead of relying on exploitative recruiters.
For years, governments and corporations have turned a blind eye to labor abuses in the seafood industry. Now, survivors are demanding accountability. It’s time for companies like Bumble Bee to clean up their supply chains and stop profiting from forced labor.
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Without accurate investigation and reporting, most consumers wouldn’t give a second thought about their Tuna. This is precisely the problem.There are few consumers who would support such antiquated conditions for the fishermen who do these back breaking jobs. It appears to me that the world demand for cheap fish is fast emptying our precious oceans.Not only do we dump out plastic trash in the water, we expect the same pipeline to produce never ending fish in the midst of this trash we heap on it
With natural food shortages and shortages due to other factors, we can still boycott Brands that support inhumane treatment of workers.
Que se revisen condiciones laborales y se logre justicia internacional laboral
Only money and profit matter in this world of horrors. It’s nauseating…despicable people…