Thai Shrimp Association fears EU may ban Thai fisheries products
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Dec 5 -- The Thai Shrimp Association urged the Department of Fisheries to tackle illegal fishing; otherwise, the European Union (EU) may ban Thai fishery products.

Somsak Paneetatayasai, association president, said fishing operators expected the EU to issue a "yellow card" to impose a close watch on Thailand for failing to strictly tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing concerning the human rights of fishing labourers.

Unless Thailand makes real progress toward a solution in six months, the EU can issue a "red card" to ban fishery products from Thailand altogether.

The Thai Shrimp Association president said the Department of Fisheries should amend laws relating to fisheries, enforce them strictly and inform trading partners that Thailand is taking action to develop sustainable fisheries that comply with international laws and principles.

Mr Somsak said that if the EU bans Thai fishery products, frozen fresh shrimps and shrimp-based products would be directly affected. The volume of Thai shrimp exports has plunged by over 50 per cent due to diseases including the early mortality syndrome (EMS) since 2012.

The yield of Thai shrimp dropped from 540,000 tons to 250,000 tons in 2013. The value of shrimp exports fell from US$3.1 billion (about Bt92.25 billion) to US$2.2 billion (about Bt65.07 billion).

From January to August this year, the value of Thai shrimp exports amounted to Bt36.9 billion, dropping from Bt41.8 billion in the same period last year. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-12-05

Until the ban happens. Nothing will change. Thai are renowned for hoping the problem will go away!

"ammend laws relating to fisheries" OK will do.

"Enforce them strictly" A totally unknown concept, not compatable with "Thainess"

"Somsak Paneetatayasai, association president, said fishing operators expected the EU to issue a "yellow card" to impose a close watch on Thailand for failing to strictly tackle illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing concerning the human rights of fishing labourers."

Difficult to achieve in a nation whose mantra is: "Regulations? We don't need no stinkin' regulations".

A lot of laws in Thailand, this issue is ith enforcing them

They had a god thing with the shrimp exports but like so many other things involving Thailand they have ruined a good thing

Like everything else, they just sit back and let it happen and wonder why why why?

Sure it will be no problem for Thailand, and the Chinese friends wil come to the rescue...looks lie Thailand is playing the China card these days..

Only if they feel the hurt in their wallets they will change .....

Ban them.

Ban them.

Totally agree... They will continue with their criminal practices until they will be hit in the pocket.

Unless Thailand makes real progress toward a solution in six months,...

Above statement is beyond the comprehension level of the Thai govt.

Just have Thai Air buy another A380 or two and all will be well.

This is very strange why Europe would ban shrimp imports as this is all cultured shrimp.

And well Thai shrimp and fishery , tuna should be banned from every country. Ban them now. Thais won't do anything until they get banned, and even then will only make empty promises and declare "programs and procedures."

Illegal fishing? I don't believe that's the reason why the EU may impose the ban. Maybe someone should ask again to avoid that some important issues get lost in translation again. I think the magic words are somehow to be found around the term slave labor...

And well they should be concerned.

communist eu,

i doubt their slight of hand move to make prisoners the new slaves of the day will save them on this one. And wuts up with the yellow card, red card thing? Is this an attempt to stop the slave trade or another boring football match?

Check out what has been done for the Thai and World Shrimp business on the Thai Organic Shrimp Facebook page. Khun Veerasun has created a perfectly safe environment for shrimp farms without any poisons, toxins, or harm to anything! No shrimp disease due to natural diet source without pallet feed with natural self cleaning environment. Why doesn't the Thai Shrimp Association know about his work?

From what I've heard , there's been problems with hygiene standards and a history of diseases concerning fisheries in Thailand.

Europe has very strict controls these days. Then there's the problem of exploiting low paid workers. In today's world, there are no secrets.

Sure it will be no problem for Thailand, and the Chinese friends wil come to the rescue...looks lie Thailand is playing the China card these days..

There will always be a market somewhere for the results of forced labor, prisoner labor, and slave labor. Those boats must be hell.

Seems the only thing Thais worship is money. When they lose money then they react, not for any other reason.

Sure it will be no problem for Thailand, and the Chinese friends wil come to the rescue...looks lie Thailand is playing the China card these days..

Yeah the Chinese have no ethics or morals either, like the Thais made from the same cloth !

Enough warning has been previously issued. Thailand, at the time when stern issues were delivered, the Thai officialdom said it didn't care about the EU or its imports, as a ban would have little affect upon Thai exports.

Now the truth hits home, so tough poops........... you're too late. Probably before 6 months time bans will be imposed by the EU, and the USA too for that matter.

Thailand, you don't want to listen to international standards...... then pay the price for that! It was made clear a long time ago.

I wish they told me that shrimp don't mix with goldfish. I put 2 of the monsters into my aquarium and 3 of my prize goldfish died.

I wish they told me that shrimp don't mix with goldfish. I put 2 of the monsters into my aquarium and 3 of my prize goldfish died.

"I put 2 of the monsters into my aquarium and 3 of my prize goldfish died." Prawnograpy?

Check out what has been done for the Thai and World Shrimp business on the Thai Organic Shrimp Facebook page. Khun Veerasun has created a perfectly safe environment for shrimp farms without any poisons, toxins, or harm to anything! No shrimp disease due to natural diet source without pallet feed with natural self cleaning environment. Why doesn't the Thai Shrimp Association know about his work?

1. Learning is not the favorite sport here

2. When the Germans tried to put up a huge project (financed by them) to teach farmers to plant organic rice they were told it don't work here. Questions about this were answered with': because this is Thailand...

And well Thai shrimp and fishery , tuna should be banned from every country. Ban them now. Thais won't do anything until they get banned, and even then will only make empty promises and declare "programs and procedures."

you forgot to mention it all ends up after the 12th meeting in posh resorts with karaoke and massage.

Now that they are beginning to feel the financial effects of slavery and all manner of despicable human rights atrocities are they looking for a solution. The solution already exists but Thainess, greed and corruption and the fact that they don't give a crap about human rights prevents anything from being done.

The EU and US should impose a blanket ban and FORCE them into compliance.

Seems the only thing Thais worship is money. When they lose money then they react, not for any other reason.

Congrats 186 posts and already understand "Thainess"

The US warned Thailand a long time ago about its shrimp problems, and a ban on imports still hangs in the air. The threat of being hit with a big stick just doesn't seem to work.