OCE-C.05.B - Seafarer Conditions Policy Compliance Monitoring
Does the company demonstrate that it monitors compliance with its seafarer conditions policy or code of conduct and discloses the monitoring results?
About the data
The WBA Ocean Benchmark measures and ranks the world's most influential companies on their efforts to halt and reverse nature loss in marine ecosystems, tracking how companies manage their impacts on ocean biodiversity, marine habitats, and the communities and workers dependent on healthy seas. The 2026 edition is WBA's first Ocean Benchmark, assessing 125 companies across key sectors dependent on oceans, including seafood, maritime transport, offshore wind energy, shipbuilding, port operations, apparel, and chemicals. Companies are assessed on 47 indicators across four measurement areas: governance, ecosystems and biodiversity, social responsibility, and core social indicators. The benchmark builds on WBA's Nature Benchmark and the former Seafood Stewardship Index, and its methodology was developed with input from more than 50 stakeholders including ocean communities, companies, scientists and civil society, with human rights and social impacts kept at its core alongside nature-specific concerns. More information can be found here.
Methodology
Working in the maritime industry is labour-intensive and considered one of the world’s
most dangerous occupations. In fact, fishing vessels alone account for over 24,000 fatalities annually
(FAO, 2016b). Companies and buyers have a critical role to play in enhancing the working and living
conditions aboard vessels and within maritime working environments. They can contribute by
supporting the development and implementation of social responsibility schemes that align with
relevant ILO conventions, both within their own operations and across their supply chains.
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Demonstrate that it has systems to monitor for compliance with its policy or code of conduct,
AND
Disclose its monitoring results OR Results of third-party audits
It should be a continuous process and we would like to see results over their monitoring programme over the last year.
This element is not met if the company does not disclose results.
Example of met:FCF monitored for compliance with policy through audit activities.
Example of met: Thai Union Group Vessel Code of Conduct (VCoC) and VCoC audit progress and results (2020 Sustainability Report, pp.78-86).
most dangerous occupations. In fact, fishing vessels alone account for over 24,000 fatalities annually
(FAO, 2016b). Companies and buyers have a critical role to play in enhancing the working and living
conditions aboard vessels and within maritime working environments. They can contribute by
supporting the development and implementation of social responsibility schemes that align with
relevant ILO conventions, both within their own operations and across their supply chains.
Research Guidance:
For this element to be met, the company must:
Demonstrate that it has systems to monitor for compliance with its policy or code of conduct,
AND
Disclose its monitoring results OR Results of third-party audits
It should be a continuous process and we would like to see results over their monitoring programme over the last year.
This element is not met if the company does not disclose results.
Example of met:FCF monitored for compliance with policy through audit activities.
Example of met: Thai Union Group Vessel Code of Conduct (VCoC) and VCoC audit progress and results (2020 Sustainability Report, pp.78-86).
License
Topics
Framework Mappings
Value Type
Category
Options
Yes
No
Assessment
Steward Assessed
Report Type
Aggregate Data Report