Greenpeace brought a mermaid to a fish fight. Hannah Fraser, mermaid performance artist and ocean activist, joined Greenpeace at Chicken of the Sea’s San Diego headquarters in Sorrento Valley, and spoke with residents and visitors in Pacific Beach, on Oct. 28 to demand that the company stop greenwashing its record on ocean sustainability. “Chicken of the Sea has worked hard to greenwash its image with a majestic mermaid mascot that appeals to children and families across the country,” said Fraser, who is based in Los Angeles. “I came to San Diego to inform people who buy tuna about this company’s record of ocean destruction. The families I have talked with are outraged to learn that Chicken of the Sea uses fishing methods that needlessly kill sharks, turtles, seabirds and other marine life.” Outside of Chicken of the Sea headquarters, Fraser wore her mermaid tail and used a megaphone to demand a response from the company’s CEO. The activist held a sign urging Chicken of the Sea to “stop rippin’ up the sea” and helped deliver 80,000 petition signatures and photos from concerned customers demanding better tuna. Prior to visiting the company, Fraser visited Pacific Beach to speak directly with customers and pose for photos near Crystal Pier. The protest in San Diego coincides with others around the globe. The coordinated efforts are mounting pressure against Thai Union Group, which owns Chicken of the Sea, and its brands to make meaningful changes that protect the oceans and industry workers. “For the past few years, Greenpeace has targeted us, along with others in the tuna industry, in an activist campaign related to tuna fishing practices,” said Chicken of the Sea in a statement on its website. “The long-term sustainability of the world’s fisheries is clearly in everyone’s best interest, especially our own, and we share your commitment to sustainability.” Following the launch of Greenpeace’s global campaign on Thai Union earlier this month, the company has announced baby steps that would address a small fraction of the issues in its supply chains. “Chicken of the Sea continues to ignore its customers who want to know they’re buying sustainable and ethical products for their families,” said Greenpeace oceans campaigner Kate Melges. “Empty promises on sustainability and minimal efforts to address labor issues will no longer cut it. Chicken of the Sea needs to step up as a leader or make room for tuna companies that protect workers and the ocean.”
According to Chicken of the Sea, “Long before the Greenpeace and other activist groups’ campaigns, in March 2009, three of America’s most popular tuna companies founded the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) – a partnership between the tuna processing industry, the world’s leading fishery scientists and the World Wildlife Fund.”
“ISSF’s mission is to undertake science-based initiatives to support the long-term sustainability of tuna stocks, reduction of bycatch and promotion of ecosystem health,” said Chicken of the Sea in its statement. “ISSF does this by requiring its members to follow the conservation recommendations of tuna Regional Fisheries Management Organizations’ scientific committees.”
According to Greenpeace, despite its sustainability claims, the tuna company uses fishing methods that unnecessarily kill marine life and Thai Union Group has been implicated in significant human rights abuses and forced labor at sea.
Greenpeace recently crowdsourced three billboards with a parody logo that will go up in locations throughout San Diego on Nov. 2, including one directly across from the Chicken of the Sea headquarters. On Oct. 15, labor unions representing nearly five million urged Thai Union and Chicken of the Sea to reform their social and environmental practices. Greenpeace plans to continue to put pressure on the tuna companies.
