Two human-rights organizations are urging the Canadian government to impose sanctions on seven Chinese business entities, citing evidence that they are responsible for “gross violations” of human rights committed against Uyghur workers in China’s seafood industry.

A written submission sent to Global Affairs Canada on Thursday by the two groups, the Uyghur Rights Advocacy Project and the Human Rights Action Group, says imposing sanctions would send a message to the Chinese companies, and to the Canadian importers doing business with them, that products made using Uyghur forced labour will not be allowed to enter the Canadian market.

The submission is based on findings by The Outlaw Ocean Project, a journalism non-profit. The project’s recent investigation, published by The Globe and Mail and other media outlets, found that at least 10 large seafood companies in China have used more than 1,000 Uyghur workers since 2018. Seafood from these plants, the investigation found, was purchased by major North American importers – including Nova Scotia-based High Liner Foods Inc., one of the largest seafood companies in Canada. High Liner has since cut ties with a seafood plant in China that is alleged to have used Uyghur labour.