Fishing vessel. (Photo Credit: FAO)

Thai Govt accuses EU of disregarding its struggle against IUU fishing

THAILAND
Thursday, April 23, 2015, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

The Thai Government expressed being "deeply disappointed" to learn that it had been issued a yellow card by the European Union (EU) and that it risks an embargo on its fish exports in October unless it settles illegal fishing issues.

“The EU's decision reflects its failure to recognise the longstanding cooperation between Thailand and the EU's competent authorities,” expressed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a media release to which FIS.com had access.

The European Commission put Thailand on formal notice for not taking sufficient measures in the fight to combat illegal fishing and gave the country six months to "implement a corrective tailor-made action plan".

It has been officially reported that the government will continue its struggle against IUU fishing and given the progress so far made, Thailand urges the EU to remove the yellow card at the earliest opportunity.

Thai officials stressed that efforts to tackle illegal fishing and improve the sustainable management of marine and aquaculture environment are a top political priority.

In addition, they pointed out that Thailand risks losing nearly USD 1 billion a year if the EU bans fish imports from the country.

"I am confident that our private sector, fishermen and our fisheries operators are aware that if we fail to solve this problem our fishing industries will be faced with several problems," Thai Agriculture Minister Petipong Puengbun Na Ayudhya told AFP reporters.

The minister pointed out that Thailand's fishing industry accounts for 40 per cent of the country's food exports.

And he said that Thailand's new administration stressed determination to combat illegal fishing through measures such as a plan to use GPS devices on fishing vessels and a new bill giving greater powers to harbour and labour officials to monitor trawlers.

For its part, Thailand's largest animal feed and meat producer Charoen Pokphand Foods expects no impact on sales and operations after the warning.

Meanwhile, several non-government organizations like the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), which claimed reported cases of trafficking, forced and bonded labour on Thai fishing vessels, have accused the Thai sector of having illegal migrant workers among its 300,000 labourers who are often subject to ill-treatment.

The EU informed it had imported 145,907 tonnes of fish products worth EUR 642 million from Thailand last year.

Related articles:

- EFJ praises EU's measures against IUU
- Thai IUU and modern slavery must be addressed as interconnected issues, EJF says
-Thailand hopes to resume talks with EU on FTA
-Thailand downgraded to Tier 3 in Trafficking in Persons Report 

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