As the millions of Catholics around the world observe Lent, a coalition of global Catholic agencies has urged suppliers of seafood — StarKist Co., which owns StarKist Samoa cannery in Pago Pago and Costco Wholesaler Corp. — to ensure that persons who have been enslaved do not work in their seafood supply chains.

The Coalition of Catholic Organizations Against Human Trafficking (CCOAHT) made the call Mar. 3 when the group began a Lenten postcard campaign with the post cards sent to the Pittsburgh-based StarKist Co., and Washington state-based Costco wholesale.

“Catholics want slave-free seafood this year, and will be vigilant about this as we observe Lent,” according to the CCOAHT postcards sent to StarKist and Costco. “We, therefore, kindly urge you to do all in your power to ensure that your supply chains are free of the taint of forced labor.”

Additionally, The US imports 80% to 90% of its seafood, and tens of thousands of people are exploited at every link in the seafood harvesting and production chain — such as abusive recruitment, slavery at sea and exploitation on land.

“During Lent many Catholics eat fish and abstain from meat to be in greater solidarity with those in need. The Vatican has announced that it will ‘slave proof’ its supply chain, and many major corporations are following its lead,” the group says in the postcards.

Responding to Samoa News’ request for comments, StarKist says the company has “zero tolerance for labor abuse,” adding that StarKist is committed not only to the sustainability of the resource but the sustainability of the seafood community, including its suppliers and their employees.

“We are proud to say that more than 80% of our products are produced in the U.S., from American Samoa,” StarKist spokesperson Michelle Faist said. “Most of the remaining products are produced in Ecuador.

She said all facilities must follow the same stringent United States government regulations as plants located inside the country. “Please be assured that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other United States regulatory agencies regulate our operations,” she added.

Costco, which sells the “Kirkland” brand tuna product, has a disclosure on its website regarding human trafficking, saying that the company has a global supplier Code of Conduct which prohibits human rights abuses in its supply chain.

“Our suppliers contractually agree to follow the Code and to require that their sub-suppliers also comply. We may acknowledge and accept a supplier's code as equivalent to our Code,” according to Costco’s disclosure on www.costco.com

As of yesterday, the CCOAHT has sent postcards to only StarKist and Costco, but it’s unclear if the group — which consists of national and international Catholic agencies working to eliminate the scourge of human trafficking — plans to send postcards to the nation’s other canned tuna manufacturers, i.e, Chicken of the Sea (which is the US operation for Thailand based Thai Union Frozen food), Bumble Bee Seafood Inc., and The Tuna Store, which is owned by Tri Marine International, whose local operations include Samoa Tuna Processors cannery.

According to CCOAHT, its main purposes are to formulate plans for combating trafficking and serving its victims; promote development of services for trafficking victims and approaches to empowerment of trafficking victims; and dialogue with government officials and others engaged in public policies affecting this issue.