Chapter Project – Red Gold Debate

Opening Statements

Sub Ocean Safety (SOS)

SOS is a non-profit organization established with the primary objective of advocating for the regulations to be formulated with respect to the number of dives per day, safety equipments on the boat and imposing a limit on the lobster season to ensure that the lobster population is maintained. At present, there is no governmental authority that has implemented regulations to control the lobster industry, resulting in increases cases of human rights issues perpetuated through irresponsible business models by major seafood import companies. With these regulatory gaps, the SOS positions itself as an advocating body to ensure that the lobster industry is regulated so that seafood companies can practice corporate social responsibility. Since lobster diving is fundamentally a human rights issue that is beyond its jurisdiction, the company can only monitor the size of lobster sold in the US and advocate for regulatory frameworks to be adopted. Corporations have to be socially responsible, and the lobster industry is not an exception. It is apparent from the case that the supply side of the lobster business has substantial regulatory gaps, which justifies the need to advocate for the implementation of regulatory measures to control the business by ensuring corporate social responsibility and maintaining lobster population

Red Lobster Customers

Red Lobster customers are in the demand side of the supply chain and consume the end products in restaurants. Just like other industries such as the automobile where customers are increasingly advocating on “green organizations” and corporate social responsibility, the same is needed for the case of the lobster industry. Consumer boycotts are a common occurrence for irresponsible corporations that flout environmental regulations, violate child labour laws and other facets of responsible business; in the light of this view, Red Lobster customers have the bargaining power to demand that the company integrates CSR in its model. Customers can opt to boycott Red Lobster if the company continues to engage in unethical business practices as reported in the case.