Blood in your tuna can: Modern slavery and the role of NGOs

Abstract

Global supply chains in seafood create a disconnect between consumers and the conditions of how our fish is caught. Using the case of modern slavery in the Thai seafood industry we investigate the changing role of NGOs in combatting slavery and illegal fishing. Thailand as it is the 3rd largest exporter of seafood globally but is facing the threat of a EU ban on seafood exports. Our findings reveal that the role of NGOs has changed from the traditional advocacy role to that of a supply chain partner. We also find, however, that this new role bears new internal and external conflicts for NGOs that can hamper their effectiveness in bringing systemic changes.