Fisheries reform: Bangkok risks backtracking on exploitation

[webfact]

Under pressure from local businessmen, Parliament wants to relax stringent regulations on the protection of the sea and working conditions on fishing vessels, which are often linked to human trafficking. The current law had been passed in 2015 under pressure from the European Union, which threatened a ban on local fish products. But now, with industrial production in crisis, Thailand hopes to catch up by 'liberalising' the sector.

 

 

Bangkok (AsiaNews) - The Thai parliament is preparing to examine several bills that would lead to a substantial revision of the laws governing the fishing industry.

 

The fear of many is that the result could set the employment situation back by years in a sector where conditions of exploitation and violence against labour, especially foreign labour, have been denounced with more frequency and determination. In this case, the fallout on the country's image, which has long been under scrutiny, could also be substantial.

 

The changes so far proposed to the 2015 law - despite the differences expressed by the various parties - tend to overcome a situation considered too restrictive and unfavourable to entrepreneurs and ship owners.

 

In fact, there would be the liberalisation of destructive fishing tools such as bottom trawls, the return of the transhipment of fish between offshore vessels, wider meshes regarding the capture of protected marine species and, finally, a reduction in the penalties currently provided for illegal or irregular fishing. For the latter, fines could be reduced by as much as 98%, while prison sentences would be abolished altogether.

 

by Steve Suwannarat

 

Full story: ASIA NEWS 2024-04-16

 

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[seajae]

more greed in action, what more can be expected. Thai fishermen have destroyed the fisheries of the country purely through greed, they will do what ever it takes to take every living thing from the ocean in their quest to become richer. It will not be long till there is nothing for them to take due to their greed and they now have a pathetic govt that will do what ever it takes for them to stay where they are, shows why Thailand will remain a third world country until they vote in a decent government that will do what is needed for the country as a whole not just for themselves.

[ChrisY1]

A bit of complaining from the fishermen, and "Parliament wants to relax stringent regulations on the protection of the sea" ....

 The government have no interest in the seas...conservation is far from their minds when influential groups, eg: Thai Union, have their say! Overfishing....dragging the bottom, that take everything, and mostly goes the farmed seafood products industry...no-one in Thailand cares!

[retarius]

Srettha wants Thailand to go back to the vile slavery on fishing boats of a few years back, when Thai seafood was banned in half the world and Thailand was on the US's traffickers list?

[spidermike007]

16 minutes ago, retarius said:

Srettha wants Thailand to go back to the vile slavery on fishing boats of a few years back, when Thai seafood was banned in half the world and Thailand was on the US's traffickers list?

The answer is likely yes, and it is very likely that Thailand has never really done much to solve the issue of human trafficking and slavery. They make it appear as if they're doing just enough to stay off the most wanted list, but in reality are they really taking any realistic and productive action? I don't think so. 

 

If you have any doubts about this watch the movie Ghost Fleet, it's a pretty fantastic documentary that talks about slavery aboard Thai boats and is produced by a very brave and courageous Thai activist named Patima Tungpuchayakul. 

 

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2019/07/15/741138111/this-fearless-woman-is-fighting-to-keep-slavery-out-of-your-seafood

 

 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The changes so far proposed to the 2015 law - despite the differences expressed by the various parties - tend to overcome a situation considered too restrictive and unfavourable to entrepreneurs and ship owners.

[Purdey]

If I remember correctly, talking to someone from Thai Union several years ago, they put policies in place to avoid negative publicity and their major overseas investors asking them some serious questions. I don't think they expected to go to prison however.

[Srikcir]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

Thailand hopes to catch up by 'liberalising' the sector.

From 90-member Civil Society Organizations (CSO), October 14, 2023 (very lengthy, detailed and ominous - just paraphrasing a couple key parts)

"Joint Civil Society Statement Concerning Thailand's Fishing Sector at a Critical Crossroads," https://www.hrw.org/news/

• the new Thai government should follow a clear precautionary approach that follows scientific principles, rather than prioritizing short-term industry gains over long-term stability, sustainability, and respect for human and labor rights.
• proposals that challenge the electronic payment system's overall effectiveness for ensuring that workers are paid and that they are paid the proper amount should be rejected
• all existing IUU directives and transparency mechanisms currently contained in both law and regulations to be preserved and strengthened, rather than diminished or dissolved.
• protection for the rights of migrant worker crews should be expanded, not reduced, and reform made to the Labor Relations Act of 1975 to permit foreign migrants to organize, officially register, and lead labor unions of their own making. 

The only catch up by the new government is Backing Away from the Future. They say liberalising, I say Ketchup to the 21st Century.