Correspondence
Email sent to two contact addresses at Pacific American Fish Co. (PAFCO).
The email said: "I’m contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s seafood processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a company engaged in such practices and PAFCO’s supply chain.
PAFCO’s suppliers Rongcheng Haibo and Shandong Haidu have received persons from the Xinjiang region of China under a state-imposed labor transfer program. The United Nations, human rights organizations and academic experts agree that since 2018, the Chinese government has systematically subjected Xinjiang’s predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to forced labor across the country via state-sanctioned employment programs which use coercive methods in worker enrollment, and obstruct freedom to leave employment. The U.S. has prohibited the importation of goods produced from state-imposed forced labor.
Does PAFCO have any comment to make in response to the above information? Please reply to this email by close of business on July 6, 2023."
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed two contact addresses for Pacific American Fish Co. (PAFCO): "We emailed you in July regarding our latest investigation, which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s seafood processing industry, and a link we’ve discovered between a company engaged in such practices and PAFCO’s supply chain. We’re contacted you now with further details from our research into abuses in the Chinese fishing industry.
Trade records show that PAFCO has been the consignee for a dozen shipments of seafood from Shandong Haidu Ocean Product Co. Ltd. between 2018 and 2022, and one from Rongcheng Haibo Seafood Co. Ltd. in 2021. As raised in our previous email, both of these companies have received persons from the Xinjiang region of China under a state-imposed labor transfer program.
The United Nations, human rights organizations and academic experts agree that since 2018, the Chinese government has systematically subjected Xinjiang’s predominantly Muslim ethnic minorities to forced labor across the country via state-sanctioned employment programs which use coercive methods in worker enrollment, and obstruct freedom to leave employment. The U.S. has prohibited the importation of goods produced from state-imposed forced labor.
Shandong Haidu and Rongcheng Haibo are Chishan Group companies. Fishing vessels owned by the group have been observed fishing in North Korean waters in contravention of UN sanctions and fishing illegally in Indonesian waters. The group also owns at least two reefer vessels which have transshipped with dozens of fishing ships tied to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing as well as human rights abuses.
While we recognize that you may not be aware of the above problems, we wish to ask you if PAFCO has any comment or statement to make regarding the above information? Could you please let us know by close of business on September 29, 2023, noting that interactions remain on record."
Peter Huh, President of PAFCO emailed a statement: "Pafco doesn’t support any use of force labor; therefore, we have decided to terminate our relationship with Shandong Haidu Ocean Product Co. Ltd. and Rongcheng Haibo Seafood Co. Ltd. Thank you for contacting us."
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed Peter Huh, President of PAFCO: "Since we were last in contact with PAFCO in September 2023, our ongoing investigation has found further evidence of forced labor in China’s seafood processing industry which we want to bring to your attention. We have uncovered evidence that Dandong Taifeng Foodstuff used North Korean labor after the December 2019 deadline for the repatriation of overseas North Korean workers required under United Nations Security Council sanctions. This evidence shows North Korean labor at Dandong Taifeng’s factory in Liaoning, China, as recently as 2023. Under the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA), passed in 2017, the U.S. prohibits the import of any goods produced by North Korean nationals unless clear and convincing evidence is provided that indicates the materials were not made with forced labor. According to trade data seen by The Outlaw Ocean Project, PAFCO was the consignee for dozens of shipments of seafood from Dandong Taifeng since 2017.
While we understand that you may not be aware of the above issues, does PAFCO have any comment to make in response to this email? Can you confirm if PAFCO has supplied any seafood products sourced from Dandong Taifeng to 99 Ranch Market, Pacific Supermarket, Ocean Mart Roy, Seafood City, Uwajimaya Supermarket, Young Ocean Market, or S.J. Distributors Inc. since August 2017?"