2023: Above Board: Banks' Seafood Sector Policy Analysis

During the second half of 2023, WWF conducted a second annual assessment of 40 banks’ seafood-related sector policies to understand if and how banks are improving the way they manage environmental and social (E&S) risks in their seafood portfolios, and where, specifically, additional support may be needed most. This report highlights key findings from this assessment, compares the results against last year’s baseline to monitor progress, provides actionable recommendations for banks, and directs readers to practical resources to guide next steps. Overall, the 2023 assessment found that an increasing number of banks are taking action to manage E&S risks related to nature loss, climate change and human rights issues in the seafood sector, with nine banks (23%) demonstrating improvements against last year’s baseline. However, more progress is needed to ensure that banks’ policies sufficiently prevent and/or manage their exposure to these risks.

See the 2022 baseline assessment here.