Lawyers for four Indonesian fishermen have filed a lawsuit against Bumble Bee Seafoods, claiming they were victims of forced labor while working on tuna vessels linked to the company. This case is notable as it may be the first of its kind against a U.S. seafood firm concerning forced labor at sea.
The fishermen allege that while working on longline vessels owned by Chinese companies, they faced severe mistreatment, including physical abuse from their captains. One fisherman, Akhmad, described being struck with a metal hook and forced to continue working despite a serious leg injury. Another, Syafi’i, reported suffering from severe burns without receiving any medical attention, all while being pressured to work to cover food costs.
The lawsuit claims that Bumble Bee Seafoods, based in San Diego, violated the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. This law allows foreign victims of human trafficking to sue U.S. companies that profit from forced labor. The fishermen’s lawyer, Agnieszka Fryszman, emphasized the need for accountability for companies benefiting from such practices.
According to the lawsuit, the fishermen were trapped at sea, burdened with debts for food and other expenses, and threatened with fines if they attempted to leave. The boats often remained offshore, with supply ships bringing food and taking away the catch.
Fryszman pointed out that Bumble Bee had been warned about inhumane conditions in its supply chain in the past. In 2020, reports of abuse led to a U.S. ban on imports from a fishing vessel that supplied Bumble Bee’s parent company. However, the fishermen involved in the current lawsuit were not employed on that vessel.
The lawsuit seeks compensation for unpaid wages and the abuse suffered by the fishermen. Additionally, they are advocating for changes in how companies like Bumble Bee operate, including requiring vessels to return to shore for supplies and medical care for workers.
The fishing industry has been under scrutiny for labor abuses for many years. In response to investigations revealing that seafood caught by enslaved individuals was reaching U.S. markets, Congress passed legislation in 2016 to strengthen efforts against forced labor.
Fryszman previously represented two Indonesian fishermen who were enslaved on an American fishing boat. They settled their lawsuit against the vessel’s owner after years of legal battles and received special U.S. visas as trafficking victims.
Bumble Bee Seafoods has chosen not to comment on the ongoing litigation.