Washington, D.C. – Corporate Accountability Lab (CAL) and the Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) have jointly filed a complaint, alleging that Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP) certification falsely portrays Indian shrimp as safe, responsibly farmed, and ethically produced despite findings of exploitative labor practices, forced labor, and harmful environmental impacts. These issues were uncovered by CAL’s research, which revealed the presence of banned antibiotics and environmentally damaging practices in the certified facilities.
Shrimp, America’s top seafood choice, sees India supplying approximately 40% of the U.S. market. Many shrimp products available in U.S. stores bear the widely recognized BAP certification label, suggesting adherence to strict environmental and labor standards.
“GSA, BAP, and retailers promote BAP certification as a way for consumers to support high standards. However, in practice, it’s mostly a marketing tool,” said CAL’s executive director, Charity Ryerson, in a statement. “Workers at certified facilities report severe exploitation, and local communities face pollution impacting fisheries and water quality, all while consumers are misled.”
A three-year investigation by CAL found that BAP-certified shrimp facilities often exhibited conditions similar to uncertified facilities, including forced labor, unsanitary living conditions, movement restrictions, underpayment, and harmful groundwater contamination. The conditions violate BAP’s advertised standards, as well as Indian and international human rights laws.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance also conducted an analysis of shrimp imports rejected by the FDA in 2024. It found that 87% of shrimp rejected for antibiotic contamination came from BAP-certified sources. Despite testing only a small portion of imports, the FDA refused 71 shipments between January and September 2024, with 62 linked to BAP-certified shippers.
“BAP’s industry-led certification scheme has not addressed the issues plaguing India’s shrimp sector,” stated SSA’s executive director, John Williams. “Instead, it obscures exploitative practices, misleading consumers who believe they are supporting ethical and sustainable products.”
Certification labels emphasizing social responsibility and sustainability continue to influence consumer choices. A recent NielsenIQ study found that products with environmental and social claims experienced 8% higher growth over five years.
Report by Corporate Accountability Lab: A comprehensive report based on three years of research and investigation by Corporate Accountability Lab (CAL) has unveiled widespread labor abuses and environmental degradation within the Indian shrimp sector. The report sheds light on forced labor, unsafe working and living conditions for shrimp supply chain workers, and the environmental impacts of shrimp farming practices. It also critiques social auditing and certification schemes like BAP, asserting that they fail to uphold their claims of ethical and sustainable production.
The report underscores that the current farmed shrimp production system is unsustainable for workers, the environment, and, ultimately, the entire supply chain from retailers to consumers. CAL’s findings reveal the prevalence of severe issues in the sector, including discrimination, hazardous child labor, sexual harassment, debt bondage, threats, intimidation, and toxic waste discharge. It also calls attention to what it describes as misleading certification schemes and a lack of regulatory oversight. The report calls on companies and governments to act urgently, addressing the need to protect workers’ rights and the environment in the shrimp industry. It emphasizes that there is no time to delay in making substantial changes to treat workers fairly and mitigate environmental harm caused by unsustainable shrimp farming practices in India.
