Rationale 3.1

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) is a list of thirty rights and freedoms that belong to every human being.6666United Nations. (1948). Universal Declaration of Human Rights. United Nations General Assembly. A critical first step is employers, employees and neighbouring communities being aware of, and understanding, these rights in order to access them.

Aquaculture employees and people living in communities where aquaculture occurs need to be able to access all of these rights – from the right to a safe and healthy environment to freedom from forced and compulsory labour. Aquaculture producers share a responsibility to ensure that their employees and surrounding communities are aware of their rights so that the wellbeing of all these groups can be preserved and improved.

This Criterion focuses on the development and implementation of a human rights policy so that ASC-certified farms set out their intentions, with employees and communities being aware of – and able to advocate for – their rights and improve their working conditions and wellbeing.

Intent – The aquaculture industry respects and promotes the human rights of all employees and surrounding communities.