Landmark U.S. ruling allows Indonesians to proceed with lawsuit against Bumble Bee for forced labor on fishing boats – greenpeace.org

Legal Proceedings Against Bumble Bee Foods LLC and Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Case Summary and Judicial Ruling

• A lawsuit filed by four Indonesian fishers against U.S. tuna brand Bumble Bee Foods LLC will proceed, following a ruling by the Southern California federal district court on November 12, 2025.
• The plaintiffs allege years of forced labor on vessels supplying tuna to the company, filing the suit under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA).
• The court determined that the fishers presented sufficient allegations of forced labor. It noted that Bumble Bee had notice regarding the prevalence of such conditions on its supplying vessels and profited from the resale of tuna sourced from these vessels.
• The case is supported by extensive research from the Greenpeace global network, with the judge citing multiple reports from Greenpeace East Asia and Greenpeace Southeast Asia as evidence.

Alignment with SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The lawsuit directly confronts violations of fundamental labor rights, seeking to eradicate forced labor and modern slavery within the seafood supply chain, a key objective of SDG Target 8.7.
• By holding a major U.S. corporation accountable for labor conditions on its supplying vessels, the case promotes decent work for all, particularly for vulnerable migrant workers who are often subjected to exploitation.
• The court’s decision reinforces the principle that economic growth must not come at the cost of human dignity and that corporations have a responsibility to protect labor rights throughout their global operations, aligning with the broader goals of SDG 8.

Intersection with SDG 14: Life Below Water and SDG 12: Responsible Production

• The case highlights the link between the overexploitation of marine resources (SDG 14) and the prevalence of human rights abuses at sea. The pressure to maintain profits in the face of depleted fish stocks often exacerbates exploitative labor practices.
• This legal action promotes SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production by demanding corporate accountability and transparency in seafood supply chains. It pressures companies to adopt sustainable practices that ensure their products are free from forced labor.
• The ruling serves as a notice to the global seafood industry that unsustainable and unethical practices can lead to significant legal and reputational risk, encouraging a shift towards more responsible production models that protect both marine ecosystems and human rights.

Upholding SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

• The lawsuit exemplifies the pursuit of SDG Target 16.3, which aims to ensure equal access to justice for all. By allowing the case to move forward, the U.S. judicial system provides a critical venue for victims of forced labor to seek remedy and hold powerful entities accountable.
• This landmark case strengthens institutional frameworks for combating human trafficking and forced labor, demonstrating that national laws like the TVPRA can be effectively used to address abuses in complex international supply chains.
• The proceedings contribute to building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions by setting a legal precedent that could deter future corporate complicity in human rights violations.

Recommendations for Advancing Sustainable and Ethical Practices in the Seafood Industry

Proposed Measures by the Greenpeace “Beyond Seafood” Campaign

1. Provide free, accessible, and secure Wi-Fi on all fishing vessels to end the isolation of fishers and allow contact with families, unions, and government authorities.
2. Cap the maximum time at sea at three months to reduce the risk of human rights abuse, forced labor, and human trafficking.
3. Implement 100% human or electronic observer coverage on vessels to ensure independent and impartial reporting on fishing practices, catch data, and labor conditions, contributing to both SDG 14 and SDG 8.

Enhancing Worker Protections and Grievance Mechanisms

• Guarantee freedom of association and facilitate access to unions for all workers across the supply chain to strengthen collective bargaining power and worker protections.
• Establish accessible, secure, and responsive grievance mechanisms, including those available at sea, to allow workers to report issues as they arise.
• Require companies to respond promptly to grievances, provide effective remedies, and address the root causes of labor exploitation to ensure a just and sustainable seafood industry.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights several issues, primarily forced labor in the fishing industry, the pursuit of legal justice for workers, corporate accountability in supply chains, and the environmental impact of fishing. These issues are directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The core of the article is the lawsuit concerning forced labor, modern slavery, and horrific working conditions for Indonesian fishers, which are direct violations of decent work principles.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – The article details the legal process through which the fishers are seeking justice. The lawsuit filed under the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) and its progression in the U.S. court system exemplifies the pursuit of access to justice for all.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water – The article links the exploitation of workers to the broader issue of environmental degradation, mentioning the “overexploitation of our oceans” and the need for better monitoring of fishing practices to protect marine life.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – The case holds a major U.S. corporation, Bumble Bee, accountable for its supply chain. It underscores the responsibility of companies to ensure their products are not made with forced labor, promoting sustainable and ethical production patterns.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the issues discussed, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • Target 8.7: “Take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour, end modern slavery and human trafficking…” The entire lawsuit is built on allegations of “forced labor” and “modern slavery” experienced by the fishers while working on vessels supplying Bumble Bee. The article explicitly states the court found sufficient “allegations of forced labor as defined by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act.”
   • Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers…” The plaintiffs are Indonesian migrant fishers who faced exploitative conditions. The article calls for measures like capping time at sea, providing Wi-Fi for communication, and ensuring access to grievance mechanisms, all of which aim to create safer working environments and protect labor rights.

2. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.3: “Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.” The article focuses on the fishers’ legal battle in a U.S. federal court. The statement, “the court has given these fishers’ voices the space they deserve,” and the fact that the case is moving forward, directly illustrates an effort to ensure equal access to justice for migrant workers against a powerful corporation.

3. SDG 14: Life Below Water

   • Target 14.4: “By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices…” The article connects labor abuses to environmental issues, stating that these conditions are “exacerbated by the overexploitation of our oceans.” The call for “100% human or electronic observer coverage” is a direct measure to regulate harvesting and gather data on “catch composition, bycatch, [and] interactions with protected species.”

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.6: “Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle.” The lawsuit against Bumble Bee is a clear action to encourage a transnational company to take responsibility for its supply chain. The article asserts, “U.S. companies have a responsibility to ensure the products they sell… were not produced with the abhorrent crimes of forced labor and modern slavery,” pushing for the adoption of sustainable and ethical practices.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several indicators that can be used to measure progress:

1. Indicators for SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth)

   • Prevalence of forced labor: The court noted that Bumble Bee had “‘notice about the prevalence’ of forced labor on the vessels from which it sourced tuna.” Tracking the reduction in the prevalence of such cases is a key indicator for Target 8.7.
   • Implementation of worker protection measures: The article proposes specific, measurable actions that serve as indicators for Target 8.8. These include:
     • Percentage of fishing vessels equipped with “Free, accessible, and secure Wi-Fi.”
     • Policies “Capping time at sea at three months.”
     • Number of companies with “accessible grievance mechanisms” for workers at sea.
     • Evidence of workers’ “Freedom of association and access to unions.”

2. Indicators for SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions)

   • Number of legal cases for forced labor successfully prosecuted: The article highlights that this is “one of only a few TVPRA supply chain cases to move past the motion to dismiss stage.” The number and success rate of such lawsuits serve as an indicator of access to justice (Target 16.3).

3. Indicators for SDG 14 (Life Below Water)

   • Observer coverage on fishing vessels: The article explicitly calls for “100% human or electronic observer coverage.” The percentage of vessels with such coverage is a direct and measurable indicator for monitoring and regulating fishing practices (Target 14.4).

4. Indicators for SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production)

   • Corporate accountability mechanisms: The lawsuit itself acts as a mechanism for holding a company accountable. The number of companies implementing robust supply chain audits and traceability systems to prevent forced labor can be an indicator for Target 12.6. The article references Greenpeace reports like “Fake My Catch: The Unreliable Traceability in our Tuna Cans,” implying that reliable traceability is a key performance indicator.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: greenpeace.org