What is the Social Responsibility Assessment (SRA) Tool for the Seafood Sector?

The Social Responsibility Assessment (SRA) Tool for the Seafood Sector is a risk assessment tool specifically designed for the seafood industry. It was based on the Monterey Framework, a definition for socially responsible seafood that was developed by environmental practitioners, human and labor rights advocates, academics, and industry representatives.

The Monterey Framework laid out three principles that the SRA builds on:

The SRA addresses relevant international human and labor rights standards and existing certification and ratings practices for social issues in seafood. The purpose of this tool is to help businesses, governments, and other stakeholders assess and ultimately improve crew welfare and well-being.

The SRA tool on its own does not encompass a full human rights due diligence (HRDD) approach, but the risk assessment is a key component to an HRDD strategy.

Learn more about the Monterey Framework HERE.

Download the Social Responsibility Assessment Tool for the Seafood Sector

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How can the SRA be used?

The SRA is a risk assessment tool, which serves to identify risks of human rights abuse at all stages of seafood production going back to the vessel level, and including the seafood processing sector.

Generally, the SRA can be used to:

By building the SRA into a broader HRDD approach, you can use the results of the SRA to devise a clear and targeted HRDD strategy.

The use of the SRA can differ depending on your role in the supply chain. As an open access framework, this tool can be used in a number of different ways, for example:

PRODUCERS

The SRA can be used to assess social risks at the producer level. The SRA process can also provide an opportunity to inform fishers and seafood workers about their human and labor rights and company policies and practices related to these rights.

PROCESSORS / SUPPLIERS

Processors and suppliers can use the SRA to gain more visibility into potential risks within their operation and build out a strategy to rectify any social issues that may arise. Addressing human and labor rights can also reduce operational costs in the long-run.

RETAILERS / BRANDS

Brands and retailers can incorporate the SRA within sourcing strategies as component of a holistic human rights due diligence program. This helps de-risk and strengthen supply chains by improving fisher and worker livelihoods.

How does the SRA work with other social programs?

As the definition of sustainable seafood has evolved over the years to include social elements, there has been a rise in the use of social standards and certifications. The SRA was developed in alignment with many of these programs, but it is not itself a certification. Instead, the SRA is a complementary tool that can be used to:

• Translate audit results into a comprehensive risk assessment
• Uncover areas where an audit did not collect information
• Monitor and report on progress over time

Guidance materials have been developed to make implementation of the SRA tool simple in supply chains seeking or maintaining certification:

First, start by learning how to use the equivalency mapping:

Applying and Using the SRA Tool Equivalency Mapping

Second, review the equivalency mapping of the relevant standard to easily identify evidence from your social audit that can be used in the SRA. The following standards have already been mapped to the SRA:

Responsible Fishing Vessel Standard, version 1.0

Fair Trade USA Capture Fisheries Standard, version 1.1.0

AENOR Atun de Pesca, 195006:2016

FISH Standard for Crew, Version 1.0

Don’t see the program you are working on? ELEVATE will develop additional mapping to other standards and codes as needed. Reach out and request additional equivalency mapping at SRAsupport@elevatelimited.com.