Rio Mare
Lacks transparency. Publishes some details, but doesn't show its workers are paid and treated fairly.
Last researched 23 October 2026 · 9 sources
Italian canned tuna and seafood brand owned by Bolton Group.
Rio Mare can't show that the workers who make its products in Ecuador and Colombia earn a living wage, which workers there are very unlikely to.
Also worth knowing
It has no full independent audit.
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Why it's graded Lacks transparency
- Not met: Meets 2 of 6 Good requirements.
- Holds the grade back: It has 2 red flags: no evidence of a living wage and unaudited production in high-risk countries. Two or more red flags means a poor grade.
- It isn't Harm on record, because there's no serious confirmed problem on its record.
- Lacks transparency is still a poor grade: in supply chains like this, workers who can't be seen to be treated fairly are usually underpaid or unprotected.
Good requirements 2 of 6
- Not met: Pays a living wage, or holds a strong fair-pay certificationLiving wage: no evidence
- Not met: Respects worker rightsMost of its products are made in countries such as Ecuador and Colombia, where unions are heavily restricted, and it has no full supply chain audit.
- Not met: Supply chain independently audited or certified, or at least 80% made in countries with strong labour standards
- Met: No child or forced labour findings or links
- Met: Names the factories or farms that make its products, or is fully certified by a scheme that holds and audits that listMakes its products in its own factories
- Not met: Traces its catch to the boat or farm and has crews' or farm workers' conditions checked independently
Red flags 2
- Red flag: No evidence it pays a living wage
- Red flag: Made mostly in countries with poor worker rights, without a full independent audit of its supply chain
Stars it would earn as Good
None yet. Stars only show on Good companies. About stars
Where it's made
Rio Mare says it makes products in Italy. Its parent group's figures name Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco. The rest is shown as where fish and seafood are usually processed.
| Country | Worker rights | Legal minimum wage | Forced labour risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ecuador | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Italy | Strong protections | Close to a living wage | Low |
| Colombia | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| Morocco | Regular violations | Well below a living wage | Low |
| ThailandUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| ChinaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Below a living wage | Moderate |
| VietnamUsual for the industry | Systematic violations | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndonesiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | Moderate |
| IndiaUsual for the industry | No guarantee of rights | Well below a living wage | High |
| AustraliaUsual for the industry | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
| NorwayUsual for the industry | Strong protections | About a living wage | Low |
Evidence
What we found
- Risk across the industry, not a finding about this company: fishing fleets and processing plants have some of the worst documented forced labour, including trafficked crews held at sea for years.
- Owns or runs its own production
- Traces most of its fish and seafood to named fishing boats or farms
- It traces some of its catch or holds environmental labels such as MSC, ASC or BAP, but doesn't show both that its catch is traced to the boat or farm and that crews' or farm workers' conditions are checked independently.
Research notes Rio Mare tuna is canned at Bolton's Cermenate plant in Italy from loins supplied by Bolton's affiliate Tri Marine; Bolton's own loining plants are in Ecuador, Colombia and Morocco. Each can can be traced online to the boat that caught it, and Bolton says it publishes a list of the vessels it buys from. Oxfam assessed Bolton's plants in Ecuador, Morocco and Colombia and found risks around wages, harassment and heavy agency work, with action plans agreed. A 2021 Greenpeace review found Tri Marine could not show its boats met Bolton's human rights policy. No independent crew checks are reported.
What independent sources say
| Source | Result | Details |
|---|---|---|
| KnowTheChain | Not covered | Bolton Group is not among the companies assessed in the 2026 KnowTheChain food and beverage benchmark. View |
Sources and actions
Sources 9
Show all 9 sources
- Bolton Food first year assessment shows stronger efforts needed (Greenpeace, 2021) · search the archive · Tri Marine could not provide enough evidence its vessels meet Bolton's human rights policies
- 2026 KnowTheChain food and beverage benchmark · search the archive · Companies assessed in 2026; Bolton not included
- Our sustainable development strategy, Bolton (MSC meeting, 2025) · search the archive · Bolton publishes a list of all vessels it sources from; 93.7% MSC or FIP in 2023; Rio Mare target 100% MSC by 2030
- Rio Mare launches tuna traceability platform with IBM (2020) · search the archive · Code on each can shows vessel name, fishing area, method and production plant
- Human Rights Impact Assessment of Bolton Food's canned tuna operations in Morocco (Oxfam, 2025) · search the archive · Oxfam assessment of the Nouvelle Cosarno cannery in Agadir, over 400 workers, 71% of manual workers women
- Rio Mare Solid Light Tuna in Olive Oil, MSC Certified (Amazon.com.au) · search the archive · Rio Mare tuna sold online in Australia
Published by Rio Mare or its owner
- Rio Mare Qualità Responsabile: sustainability · search the archive · Main plants at Cermenate (Italy) and Quimper (France); Cermenate is the largest; goal of 100% MSC or FIP tuna
- Bolton Food CSR report · search the archive · Tri Marine exclusive supplier of loins processed at Cermenate; vessel name per can available on Rio Mare website; supplier policy based on ILO C188
- Bolton Food and Oxfam Partnership Report 2020-2024 · search the archive · Bolton owns 9 tuna plants in 6 countries; HRIAs at plants in Manta (Ecuador), Agadir (Morocco) and Barranquilla (Colombia) found risks on wages, harassment and agency work; no RFVS or crew audits
Company details
- Headquarters
- Italy
- Last researched
- 23 October 2026
- Cite this page
- Labour Lens, "Is Rio Mare ethical? Labour rating", https://www.labourlens.net/brand/rio-mare, last researched 23 October 2026, accessed [date].
- Method
- Researched with AI assistance against published rules. How we check · What Lacks transparency means
Something missing or wrong?
Grades are opinions based on the evidence listed here. Send us evidence, or a right of reply if you represent Rio Mare.