New Report Reveals Near-Total End to Inspections Post-Brexit, Leaving UK Blind to Illegally Caught Fish
LONDON—A new report by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and Open Seas has revealed that UK consumers may unknowingly be purchasing seafood linked to illegal and unsustainable fishing and severe human rights abuses. The report, titled 'Criminal catches: How to stop the supply of illegal seafood to the UK', finds that critical checks on imported seafood have plummeted to "alarmingly low levels" since the UK's departure from the European Union.
The report, based on official UK data and EJF investigations, suggests that the government is "effectively blind" to whether the seafood reaching dinner plates is connected to crimes such as human trafficking, forced labor, and the destruction of ocean ecosystems. The UK, an import-dependent nation that sources over 80% of its seafood from abroad, is now seen as vulnerable to the entry of "illegal, unreported, and unregulated" (IUU) fishing products.
Alarms Raised Over China and Russia
The report highlights a significant lack of oversight for imports from countries with a high risk of IUU fishing. Despite a troubling track record of documented abuses by Chinese distant-water fishing vessels, the UK receives approximately 1,000 catch certificates from China annually, representing an average of 58,000 tonnes of seafood. Yet, since 2012, only four seafood consignments from the country have been refused. This is particularly concerning given EJF's investigations, which have exposed abuses on vessels from companies like Zhejiang Ocean Family Co., Ltd., a firm with reported supply chain links to UK supermarkets.
The situation with Russia is even more alarming, according to the EJF. The report found that between 2021 and 2023, not a single catch certificate from Russia—one of the world’s most consistent offenders for IUU fishing—was either verified or refused
EU 'Yellow Cards' and Post-Brexit System Failures
The report points to the significant loss of monitoring capacity as a direct result of Brexit. In 2024, over a quarter of all UK seafood imports came from countries that had received a "yellow card" warning from the European Commission. These warnings indicate that a country is not doing enough to combat IUU fishing and can result in a seafood export ban to the EU. Examples of these nations include Thailand, Vietnam, and Ecuador.
Steve Trent, EJF CEO and Founder, stated, "Every time someone in the UK goes to the supermarket or their local seafood restaurant, they deserve to know that the fish they are buying is not tainted by environmental destruction, forced labour, or even slavery."
The report urges the UK government to take immediate action. It recommends updating and digitizing its catch certification system and implementing its own "carding system" to sanction states that fail to combat IUU fishing. It also calls for sufficient funding for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to restore their capacity for seafood import checks.
By adopting proactive measures, the UK has the opportunity and responsibility to drive change across the global fishing industry, protecting its market, upholding human rights at sea, and safeguarding marine ecosystems for the future.
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The report, based on official UK data and EJF investigations, suggests that the government is "effectively blind" to whether the seafood reaching dinner plates is connected to crimes such as human trafficking, forced labor, and the destruction of ocean ecosystems. The UK, an import-dependent nation that sources over 80% of its seafood from abroad, is now seen as vulnerable to the entry of "illegal, unreported, and unregulated" (IUU) fishing products. FIS Seafood Media(1).png)
Steve Trent, EJF CEO and Founder, stated, 
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