Greenpeace Protests “Big Seafood” at Boston Expo, Demanding End to Labor Abuses and Ocean Destruction

BOSTON (March 16, 2026) — Greenpeace USA activists today disrupted the Seafood Expo North America in Boston, unfurling a banner declaring “Big Seafood Kills Oceans and Workers.” The protest targeted the large corporations dominating the global seafood supply chain—from fishing fleets and traders to major brands and retailers—accusing them of contributing to overfishing, destructive fishing practices, and widespread labor abuses, including forced labor at sea.

The Scale of the Problem

An estimated 128,000 fishers worldwide are victims of forced labor, a situation often linked to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. These practices exacerbate the ocean and climate crises, according to Greenpeace.

Greenpeace’s Demands: Ending Isolation at Sea

The Greenpeace network is calling for “Big Seafood” to end isolation at sea through the following measures:

• Ensuring fishers have free, accessible, and secure Wi-Fi on all vessels.
• Limiting time at sea to a maximum of three months between port visits.
• Mandating 100% human observer or electronic monitoring coverage on fishing vessels.

Report Highlights Retailer Failures

The protest coincided with the release of Greenpeace USA’s fourth edition of the High Cost of Cheap Tuna report, which evaluates supermarket labor rights and sustainability practices. The report found that most of the 16 supermarkets assessed are failing in these areas.

Industry Response and Whole Foods’ Progress

Sari Heidenreich, Senior Human Rights Advisor, Global Fisheries, Greenpeace USA, stated: “Big Seafood is fueling multiple crises at sea. They are denying fishermen fundamental human rights, draining our oceans of fish, and destroying ecosystems, all although reaping the profits from their devastation. Cheap tuna should never reach at such a high cost. Modern slavery cannot be business-as-usual—and neither should the killing of thousands of sharks, turtles, and seabirds as bycatch. This industry, earning over $350 billion annually, has known these realities and has done too little for too long. Big Seafood must act now to end isolation at sea.”

Whole Foods emerged as a leader in the latest retailer scorecard, due to its new Seafood Code of Conduct, which addresses forced labor issues. However, Greenpeace notes that the policy still allows for fishers to be at sea for up to 11 months, exceeding the recommended three-month limit.

Symbolic Protest and Access Denied

The protest featured a large pair of fishermen’s boots, symbolizing the thousands of workers trapped in modern slavery or facing dangerous conditions at sea. Life-size models of turtles and sharks represented the bycatch—the unintentional capture of non-target species—caused by destructive fishing practices. Greenpeace reported that multiple campaigners registered for the event were denied entry.

Heidenreich added: “Big Seafood’s problem isn’t a lack of awareness or tools—it’s a lack of action. For too long, companies have relied on distance and complex supply chains to avoid accountability for the crises they have created. That era is ending. Big Seafood should take this moment as a wake-up call to prioritize protecting workers and oceans, not lining their pockets with blood money.”

The Importance of Worker Rights

Greenpeace emphasizes the importance of freedom of association, access to unions, and accessible grievance mechanisms—including those available at sea—to protect workers’ rights throughout the seafood supply chain.

Greenpeace USA is part of a global network advocating for environmental protection and social justice.

Contact:

Tanya Brooks, Senior Communications Specialist at Greenpeace USA, +1 703 342 9226. tanya.brooks@greenpeace.org

Greenpeace USA Press Desk: pressdesk.us@greenpeace.org