Tell UK Ministers: Stop Illegal Seafood from Entering the UK

What you need to know

Illicit seafood is ending up on consumers’ plates — and our current system isn’t equipped to stop it.

The exploitation is twofold: crews are often trapped in dangerous, abusive conditions for months at sea, beholden to companies and countries that unlawfully overexploit the ocean, driving the collapse of fish populations and jeopardising marine ecosystems. The catch from these vessels can pass unnoticed through complex international supply chains, making it difficult to trace its true origin before it reaches shops and supermarket shelves.

And this isn’t just happening in distant waters. Over a quarter of seafood consumed in the UK comes from countries with documented links to illegal fishing. Yet our border checks are insufficient to keep tainted seafood out. Without reform, the UK’s weakly enforced import controls leave the country vulnerable to becoming a dumping ground for seafood tied to abuse, exploitation and destruction of marine life. 

The good news?

It doesn’t have to be this way. Proven measures — many of which have already been adopted in the EU — can stop illegal seafood at the border, beginning with a strengthened and digitised catch certification scheme, more frequent verification checks on catch documentation, paired with implementation of a “carding” scheme to warn and sanction countries that fail to evidence positive reforms to combat illegal fishing. 

The UK has long recognised illegal fishing as a serious threat to local economies and national fisheries management, expressing support for the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency. Now it’s time to follow through and take immediate action to stop illegal and unethical seafood from entering the country.

What happens next

Your message will go directly to UK ministers responsible for ocean and fisheries policy. They have the power to implement the measures needed to stop illegal seafood from entering the UK market. Now is the time for the government to step up and act decisively to protect consumers, the ocean, and the human rights of workers at sea.