FCF Co., Ltd.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the governance and strategy measurement area.

No leading practices were identified for the company in the ecosystem measurement area.

No leading practices were found for the company in the traceability measurement area.

No leading practices were found for the company in the social responsibility measurement area.

Sustainable development strategy
While FCF has developed a Tuna Sustainability Policy, it has an opportunity to disclose a group-wide sustainable development strategy and how it identifies and prioritises the topics where it has the most impact.

Governance and accountability for sustainable development
Responsibility for FCF’s sustainable development lies with the Task Force Team, which sends weekly reports to the chief executive officer/chair and president, with whom accountability for and oversight of the company’s sustainability strategy lies. There is an opportunity for the company to demonstrate whether sustainability objectives and targets are linked to roles and remuneration.

Stakeholder engagement
While FCF has conducted stakeholder engagement activities and discloses an overview of the issues raised via these activities, it has an opportunity to disclose how it identifies its most relevant stakeholders, along with information on how the outcomes of the engagement process are integrated into the company’s sustainable development strategy.

Engagement in policy advocacy
FCF reports that it is actively engaged with the Taiwanese Fisheries Agency (TFA). The company states that through its involvement with the TFA, it aims to advocate for better social standards on Taiwanese tuna fishing vessels by adopting practical solutions. FCF can further improve by disclosing information about results and impacts of policy advocacy activities.

Commitment to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture
FCF states that it aims for 100% sustainable sourcing in the near future but has an opportunity to strengthen this commitment by setting time-bound targets to achieve this goal. Furthermore, the company could develop progress reporting against these targets and disclose quantitative data that demonstrates progress. It could build on the time-bound target of its subsidiary Bumble Bee, which aims to source all its seafood by 2025 from either fully certified fisheries or fisheries that are involved in a programme moving towards certification.

Ecosystem impacts of fisheries
FCF reports several improvements in sourcing from sustainable fisheries. The company has increased its sourcing from tuna fisheries certified by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) and is involved on four Fishery Improvement Programmes (FIPs) to improve the management of tuna fisheries. Despite its efforts, however, the company can further improve by reporting progress on how impacts on by-catch, endangered species and sensitive habitats are addressed and mitigated in these FIPs. In addition, FCF can disclose information about the ecosystem impacts of fisheries that are not certified or not in improvement projects.

Abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear
FCF reports being active in combatting ocean plastics such as abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG). As a lot of its supply relies on purse seine fishing and the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs), the company’s sustainability policy seeks to address lost gear. FCF is also involved in a study of biodegradable FADs. Furthermore, its subsidiary Bumble Bee is particularly involved in a Global Ghost Gear Initiative project in Indonesia, with the aim to use fish net tags to recover and remove fishing gear. However, the quantified impact of these activities has not been reported.

Ecosystem impacts of aquaculture
Although FCF is not involved in aquaculture activities, its subsidiary Bumble Bee does source farmed seafood. The company does not disclose information about how it promotes sustainable aquaculture practices in its supply chains. FCF can improve its performance by disclosing how it addresses important aquaculture issues in its supply chain, such as antibiotic use and animal welfare, and how potential risks with high-risk commodities, such as soya, are mitigated.

Commitment to traceability
FCF has drafted a Code of Conduct for Procurement and Sales of Catches or Fishery Products that aims to specifically combat IUU fishing from entering its supply chain and follow traceability standards. The company can strengthen its commitment by setting a time-bound target towards full traceability, or it can align with its subsidiary Bumble Bee, which has committed to implementing the Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability standard.

Traceability system for seafood and marine feed ingredients
FCF describes its systems in place to trace and verify the origins of seafood products, and it explains how data is collected, verified and shared along its supply chain. However, the company could improve its performance by disclosing the data elements it collects.

Risk-based approach to IUU fishing
FCF sources MSC-certified products or products involved in FIPs, FCF also states through its traceability system it is able to mitigate the risk of IUU fish entering its supply chain. However, the company has an opportunity to improve by showing that it assesses IUU fishing risks across all its operations and supply chains, and to publicly disclose assessments of these risks.

Disclosure of the origins of seafood products and marine feed ingredients
FCF only discloses the sourcing locations of its products that are MSC certified or involved in FIPs, while its subsidiary Bumble Bee shares this information for about 90% of its products. FCF could increase its performance in this area by sharing an overview of all the fisheries it sources from and including information about species, geographic location and management status.

Forced labour
While FCF commits to prohibiting forced labour in its own operations and requires its suppliers to adhere to the same standard, it has an opportunity to disclose a requirement that prohibits its suppliers from restricting workers’ freedom of movement.

Living wage
FCF does not disclose that it pays its workers a living wage or requires its suppliers to do the same. Neither has it set targets to do so in the future.

Working and living conditions on board fishing vessels
To protect the well-being of crew members and to minimise human rights risks, FCF has recently developed its Social Responsibility Program. In 2019 and 2020, the company conducted social audits on the purse seine and longline vessels in its supply chain as well as interviews with crew members. It has disclosed the findings of the audits and areas for improvement, but it can further improve its programme by sharing information on how it will implement identified improvements.

Respecting customary and indigenous rights and support for local communities
FCF provides examples about how it supports local communities but has not committed to respecting customary and indigenous rights. The company can improve its reporting by disclosing a systematic process for engaging with local communities in its own operations and supply chains. It could also track progress of the results and impacts of its engagement with local communities and commit to respecting customary and indigenous rights.

FCF commits to respecting the human rights of workers, including among its suppliers. While the company indicates a mechanism to raise complaints or concerns, it is unclear if anonymity is mandatory or optional. Further, the company does not have a publicly available policy statement committing it to respect human rights. Lastly, no sufficient details on the processes for identifying, assessing and acting on human rights risks and impact were found in the public domain.

FCF commits to respecting the health and safety of workers but does not disclose quantitative information on the topic. Regarding working hours, the company does not disclose that workers shall not be required to work more than 48 hours in a regular work week or 60 hours including overtime. No information on paying a living wage or collective bargaining practices, workforce diversity or a sufficient commitment to women’s empowerment were found in the public domain.

No approaches to lobbying and political engagement, anti-bribery and anti-corruption, public global tax disclosures or commitment to protecting personal data were found in the public domain.