Indonesia navy nabs Thai-owned cargo ship loaded with slave-caught fish

[webfact]

Indonesia navy nabs cargo ship loaded with slave-caught fish
By MARGIE MASON

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A massive refrigerated cargo ship believed to be loaded with slave-caught fish was seized by Indonesia's navy and brought to shore after The Associated Press informed authorities that it had entered the country's waters, officials said Thursday.

The Thai-owned Silver Sea 2 was located late Wednesday and escorted about 80 miles (130 kilometers) to a naval base in Sabang on the Indonesian archipelago's northwestern tip, said Col. Sujatmiko, the local naval chief.

The AP used a satellite beacon signal to trace its path from Papua New Guinea waters, where it was also being sought, into neighboring Indonesia. The navy then spent a week trying to catch it. The ship was close to leaving Indonesian waters by the time it was finally seized.

"I'm so overwhelmed with happiness," said Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti. "It was almost impossible, but we did it."

The Silver Sea 2 is the same 2,285-ton vessel captured in a high-resolution satellite photo last month in Papua New Guinea showing its hold open and two fishing trawlers tethered to each side, loading fish. The smaller wooden vessels were identified by analysts as the ones that fled a remote Indonesian island earlier this year, crewed by enslaved men from poor Southeast Asian countries who are routinely beaten and forced to work nearly nonstop with little or no pay.

An AP investigation revealed their catch reached the supply chains of major U.S. food sellers, such as Wal-Mart, Sysco and Kroger, and American pet food companies, including Fancy Feast, Meow Mix and Iams. The businesses have all said they strongly condemn labor abuse and vowed to take steps to prevent it.

Pudjiastuti freed hundreds of men earlier this year after the AP exposed they were trapped — including some locked in a cage — on the island village of Benjina. But 34 boats loaded with slaves escaped before authorities arrived. They remain missing.

Pudjiastuti, who put a moratorium on all foreign fishing last year, said the Silver Sea 2 captain will be questioned, and an investigation will be launched into suspected human trafficking, transport of illegally caught fish and offloading at sea, which allows fishermen to work for months on end without returning to port, making it easier for their captains to exploit them.

"Indonesia's action here is significant as it demonstrates a commitment to enforcing the actions of vessels within their waters, regardless of whether they are fishing illegally or trafficking labor," said Tobias Aguirre, executive director of California-based nonprofit Fishwise, which advocates for sustainable, slave-free seafood.

Authorities in Papua New Guinea had also been searching for the boat. They instead seized another Thai-owned fish cargo ship, the Blissful Reefer two weeks ago. Two trafficked Burmese and six Cambodians were found on board.

Workers who recently returned home to Myanmar after being enslaved on one of the trawlers that fled to Papua New Guinea said they regularly loaded fish onto Silver Sea cargo ships, which ferry the catch back to Thailand, where it was processed and fed into the country's $7 billion annual seafood export business.

The industry depends on the labor of poor people from its own country and migrants from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos who are often sold, kidnapped and tricked onto trawlers.

In addition, Burmese slaves rescued from Benjina, who were among hundreds interviewed by AP in person or in writing, said they were trafficked in Thailand and brought to fish in Indonesia aboard the Silver Sea 2 with no way to return home.

Silver Sea Reefer Co., which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen.
____

Associated Press writer Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia and Martha Mendoza in Santa Cruz, California contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-13

[impulse]

Silver Sea Reefer Co., which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen.

Oh well. Case closed.

[Seastallion]

"Silver Sea Reefer Co., which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen."

Then where did the fish in the hold come from?

Come on Indonesia, get hard. Impound the ship, sell the catch (to help rehabilitate the freed slaves), and do not back down when the rich owner of the ship tries to slip a few hundred thousand baht your way.

Sell the ship to finance more patrols.

[MAJIC]

"Silver Sea Reefer Co., which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen."

Oh! sure the usual denial when caught slave trading,it's a strange company that didn't know the crew of their ships were happy to work for nothing or required no crew to run the ships! Needless to say a Big BS all round.

Where Slavery and trafficking is concerned, the maximum penalties should be applied,like a life sentence! should put a stop to it!

Edited August 13, 2015 by MAJIC

[clockman]

More loss of face, for the general!

[impulse]

More loss of face, for the general!

Seriously. Give it a rest. This has been going on for decades and it will continue for decades after the General steps down.

[otherstuff1957]

This is the Siver Sea 2 at marinetraffic dot com

Shows it to be currently located at the harbor in Sebang.

Edited August 13, 2015 by otherstuff1957

[marcusd]

More loss of face, for the general!

Seriously. Give it a rest. This has been going on for decades and it will continue for decades after the General steps down.

Or until the lies of Walmart Iams and other buy elsewhere!

[willyumiii]

This ship and it's cargo should be sunk in deep water.

The American companies listed that buy the slave caught fish should all be boycotted by all Americans.

[DavisH]

This ship and it's cargo should be sunk in deep water.

The American companies listed that buy the slave caught fish should all be boycotted by all Americans.

Makes me wonder where out seafood comes from here too...I'd happily boycott if I find the source is from there boats. But how about Thais...would there care?

[craigt3365]

This ship and it's cargo should be sunk in deep water.

The American companies listed that buy the slave caught fish should all be boycotted by all Americans.

The only reason they were able to track the seafood shipments to the US is because the documents are open to the public. The slave caught fish end up on shelves all over the world. Including here, and places in Europe. The trash fish is used as feed for chickens and pigs.

Perhaps a worldwide boycott? As it is truly international.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/-sp-migrant-workers-new-life-enslaved-thai-fishing

[willyumiii]

This ship and it's cargo should be sunk in deep water.

The American companies listed that buy the slave caught fish should all be boycotted by all Americans.

The only reason they were able to track the seafood shipments to the US is because the documents are open to the public. The slave caught fish end up on shelves all over the world. Including here, and places in Europe. The trash fish is used as feed for chickens and pigs.

Perhaps a worldwide boycott? As it is truly international.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/-sp-migrant-workers-new-life-enslaved-thai-fishing

I agree, but 50% of Thai fish are sold in the United States.

50% would be a large enough impact to stop this crime.

But, yes, everyone should boycott Thai seafood and products made from it.

Again....

[Seastallion]

This ship and it's cargo should be sunk in deep water.

The American companies listed that buy the slave caught fish should all be boycotted by all Americans.

That's just a terrible waste.

The cargo and the ship should be sold for the best price possible to finance more patrols or to assist rescued slaves.

[craigt3365]

The stats are hard to figure out. China is the #1 producer of Seafood globally. According to this report, the US get 20% of Thailand's exports:

http://www.rt.com/usa/243841-slave-caught-seafood-us/

Thailand is one of the key seafood suppliers to America which buys up to 20 percent of the country's $7 billion annual exports in the industry.

Europe seems to get about 10%:

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/21/eu-threatens-thailand-with-trade-ban-over-illegal-fishing

Thailand’s global fish exports were valued at €7bn (£5bn) in 2013. Last year, €642m of that catch – weighing 145,907 tonnes – was destined for European dishes, where it made up over 3% of the continent’s overall fish imports.

The US imports 90% of the seafood that's eaten there. Quite a bit is caught locally, but sent to other countries for processing. Very complicated.

http://www.fishwatch.gov/wild_seafood/outside_the_us.htm

Today, up to 90 percent of seafood consumed in the United States is imported, and about half of this is wild-caught. A significant portion of this imported seafood is caught by American fishermen, exported overseas for processing, and then reimported to the United States.

I'd say a significant amount of Shrimp imported to the US is from Thailand. But other countries seem to supply a larger percentage overall of all seafood.

http://www.fishwatch.gov/farmed_seafood/outside_the_us.htm

http://www.worldfishing.net/news101/regional-focus/thai-fisheries-under-pressure

The United States is the Kingdom’s largest shrimp export market, though Indian shrimp exporters have overtaken Thai exporters as the US’s major shrimp suppliers since Thailand’s EMS outbreak occurred, Somsak said.
.......
The volume of tuna and other fish species caught in Thai waters has fallen sharply during the past two decades due to overfishing. As a result, more than one million tons of fishery products are imported frozen each year for export processing, much of it tuna for canning.

Interesting to read about the IUU issues in China. But since slave labor isn't used, it hasn't hit the headlines quite as dramatically.

[Usernames]

Where's a submarine when you need one?

[alfalfa19]

Silver Sea Reefer Co., which owns at least nine refrigerated cargo ships in Thailand, has said it is not involved with the fishermen.

Oh well. Case closed.

You beat me to it. I had that line copied and ready to paste, when I saw your post.

I guess involvement does not include business relationship?

[OOLEEBER]

Where's a submarine when you need one?

My first laugh out loud moment of the day! Thanks for that

[Dibbler]

Proof that regulation has not worked as the slave-ships simply operate in international waters. Consumers of Thai seafood should petition the junta to revoke all licences and in the meantime boycott these products. Indonesia should sink a few of these Thai ships to make the point, as they have with illegal boats from other countries.

[webfact]

Indonesian Navy intercepts illegal vessel from Thailand in Aceh waters



JAKARTA: -- A fishing boat flying the Thai flag was intercepted on Thursday by the Indonesian Navy in the waters of Aceh and brought ashore for investigation, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Maj Akbar, chief of the Navy’s intelligence unit at Sabang, said that the vessel was brought to Sabang Bay after poor weather hampered investigations on site. The ship had been found sailing some 128 kilometers from the shore.

The ship, Silver Sea 2, would be investigated on suspicion of illegal fishing, he said.

The Navy would be disclosing more details regarding violations committed by the Thai vessel later.

The Indonesian government has made foreign poachers encroaching on national waters a security priority, with dozens of vessels already scuttled in the war against illegal fishing.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti told reporters that the 2,285-gross-ton boat was owned by a Thai company called Silver Sea Reefer​, but operated by Ambon-based fisheries firm Pacific Glory Lestari.

All crew members of Silver Sea 2 were foreign nationals, Susi noted, adding that a special illegal fishing task force would be assisting the Navy in its investigation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/indonesian-navy-intercepts-illegal-vessel-from-thailand-in-aceh-waters


-- Thai PBS 2015-08-14

[casualbiker]

Indonesian Navy intercepts illegal vessel from Thailand in Aceh waters

JAKARTA: -- A fishing boat flying the Thai flag was intercepted on Thursday by the Indonesian Navy in the waters of Aceh and brought ashore for investigation, The Jakarta Globe reported.

Maj Akbar, chief of the Navy’s intelligence unit at Sabang, said that the vessel was brought to Sabang Bay after poor weather hampered investigations on site. The ship had been found sailing some 128 kilometers from the shore.

The ship, Silver Sea 2, would be investigated on suspicion of illegal fishing, he said.

The Navy would be disclosing more details regarding violations committed by the Thai vessel later.

The Indonesian government has made foreign poachers encroaching on national waters a security priority, with dozens of vessels already scuttled in the war against illegal fishing.

Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti told reporters that the 2,285-gross-ton boat was owned by a Thai company called Silver Sea Reefer​, but operated by Ambon-based fisheries firm Pacific Glory Lestari.

All crew members of Silver Sea 2 were foreign nationals, Susi noted, adding that a special illegal fishing task force would be assisting the Navy in its investigation.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/indonesian-navy-intercepts-illegal-vessel-from-thailand-in-aceh-waters

-- Thai PBS 2015-08-14

Hang about... " Ambon-based fisheries firm Pacific Glory Lestari"

Ambon is in Indonesia. So is it a Thai slave boat or an Indonesian slave boat.. Let's not forget about the fact that the other "slaves" were "rescued" from an Indonesian island where they had been living for many years. Some didn't want to go home as they had married locals or were waiting for salaries!!! Married and salaries don't usually = slavery

Edited August 14, 2015 by casualbiker

[whaleboneman]

Where's a submarine when you need one?

My first laugh out loud moment of the day! Thanks for that

Slavery is nothing to joke about.

[slipperylobster]

did any of these "slaves" have work visas?

[Nowisee]

Everyone is happy fishing and selling the fish because it's making money (or saving it), that's all anyone cares about.. from the captain, to the person buying the fish.
In this part of the world, the unregulated fishing will only stop when all the fish are gone and the ocean is dead. The mentality is kill it all, sell it all, make money.

[duckmandon]

This ship and it's cargo should be sunk in deep water.

The American companies listed that buy the slave caught fish should all be boycotted by all Americans.

Makes me wonder where out seafood comes from here too...I'd happily boycott if I find the source is from there boats. But how about Thais...would there care?

Thais care about one thing only. Money!!! If it's cheap, we don't care how they get it. They treat Burmese & all other people like scum. That's why they use foreign labour to build houses etc for less than minimum wage. Called slavery & they don't give a <deleted>

[mango66]

In Thai - nothing will happen, is sure someone high up is the owner of this company !!

he have his ships out, so not banned to leave the harbour without correct gear !!

Did they check the toilletbag of the captain ?

maybee a small shark could be forgotten inside !!

[SOTIRIOS]

...while we are being told that 'everything is in order with Thai fishing'....and...'well-regulated'....

...just another farce....

,,,and the guilty party is innocent of course....all these years......

[FangFerang]

It is a very dirty business that the US posts Thailand to tier three, keeps buying seafood, and then turns around and refuses to post China and Indonesia as tier 3 traffickers (despite the analysts recommendations) -- and all because of the trade treaty that makes the US power brokers money.

A very sick business when the accuser buys from the accused thief, and supports the slavery they claim to protest with the same money they use to fund the protest.

It is like saying the defamation suit filed was, itself, defaming, and counter suits and counter-counter suits will be followed by counter-counter- counter suits....all in a straightforward manner, of course.

[hawker9000]

Oh! So THIS would be what those three Chinese subs the RTN wants to buy would be used to prevent! Indonesia better watch out!

[craigt3365]

It is a very dirty business that the US posts Thailand to tier three, keeps buying seafood, and then turns around and refuses to post China and Indonesia as tier 3 traffickers (despite the analysts recommendations) -- and all because of the trade treaty that makes the US power brokers money.

A very sick business when the accuser buys from the accused thief, and supports the slavery they claim to protest with the same money they use to fund the protest.

It is like saying the defamation suit filed was, itself, defaming, and counter suits and counter-counter suits will be followed by counter-counter- counter suits....all in a straightforward manner, of course.

In the end, it's up to Thailand to deal with this. Other countries are doing their best to highlight the problems. If the EU was to issue a red card, would that be a bad thing?

Have you eaten any seafood from Thailand lately? If you live here, and have, it's potentially from the same source. Remember, only about 20% of what is produced here goes to the US, the rest is consumed here or in other countries around the world. Many of which haven't said a thing.

Congrats to the AP for their investigation.

[TimmyT]

well done Indonesia, anyway slavery should be stopped