U.S. CBP has issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against Zhen Fa 7, a Chinese-flagged fishing vessel, effective May 28, 2025. CBP officers at all U.S. ports will detain seafood, including but not limited to squid, harvested by Zhen Fa 7. This enforcement action is based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in the harvesting and production of seafood on board this vessel.
CBP’s investigation identified several indicators of forced labor as defined by the International Labor Organization, including abuse of vulnerability, isolation, retention of identity documents, abusive working and living conditions, physical and sexual violence, and debt bondage. These forced labor practices allowed Zhen Fa 7 to benefit from lower labor costs, production of goods below market value, undercutting American businesses, and unjustly earned profits.
CBP enforces U.S. trade and customs laws to protect U.S. seafood markets from unfair trade practices by investigating the use of forced labor in the seafood supply chain. The WRO against Zhen Fa 7 is the latest in CBP's efforts to combat forced labor around the world. With this WRO issuance, CBP is currently overseeing and enforcing 52 WROs and 9 findings. This is the sixth WRO CBP has issued on a fishing vessel since 2020.
For more information on this WRO enforcement, visit: