EU probes illegal fishing, slave labor before ruling on possible Thailand sanction

[webfact]

EU probes illegal fishing, slave labor before Thai ruling

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is including Thailand's actions to stamp out slave labor in the fishing industry during its investigation whether to impose sanctions on the major fish-exporting nation for failing to crack down on illegal and unregulated fishing.

The EU is expected to rule by the end of the year whether to impose an EU seafood import ban on Thailand and is in negotiations with Bangkok on amending a series of fishing practices which it considers as seriously contributing to the depletion of fish stocks.

The EU has successfully forced several nations to change its fisheries policies, but in the case of Thailand though, it is also looking into the social conditions of some fishermen that many have called slavery.

An AP investigation has shown that enslaved fishermen are routinely hauled from Thailand to work on smaller Thai trawlers in foreign waters where they are given little or no pay. Hundreds of former slaves told AP they were beaten or witnessed other crew members being attacked. They were routinely denied medicine, forced to work 22-hour shifts with no days off and given inadequate food and water.

"We are very concerned about the situation, both at the level of fishing and slavery. And we think we have to deal with both issues," a senior EU fisheries official said on condition of anonymity because the talks with the Thai authorities were still ongoing.

"We want a global solution at the end," the official said.

The EU will be sending a fact-finding mission to Thailand this month on both the fisheries control and social conditions. "Several departments work with us and they will join our mission," the official said.

Even since the EU slapped Thailand with a so-called yellow card in April for allegedly failing to live up to international standards on fishing practices, talks have been ongoing to stave off sanctions.

Thailand is a major exporter of seafood, with yearly revenues of almost 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion), and an EU ban — a "red card" — would seriously affect the industry. Annual exports to the EU are estimated to be worth between 575 million euros ($640 million) and 730 million euros ($815 million).

Even though the official noted progress in the talks over the past months, "there is an enormous amount of work left to be done," citing issues over inspections, product traceability and legal changes.

While the talks with Thailand continue, the EU is also threatening to take trade action against Taiwan and the Comoros if they do not contain within six months illegal and unregulated fishing, which is a major contributor to the depletion of key commercial stocks.

At the same time, the 28-nation trade bloc lifted the so-called yellow card from Ghana and Papua New Guinea after both nations took sufficient measures to crack down on the illegal practices.

EU Fisheries chief Karmenu Vella said he called on Taiwan and the Comoros to follow suit and make sure they are not slapped with export bans to the lucrative EU market.
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Raf Casert can be followed on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/rcasert


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-10-02

[Hawk]

How will the PM talk his way out of this little problem?

[bapoboy]

eu wipe Your own ass before you wipe somone else ass. the biggest problem in europe and eu is massive uregulated immigration by terrorist from the middle....

and what eu are doing they will but their Citizens in danger, it will results With war... eu memer states who refues to Accept refugees threatended With sanctions from eu brussel... lack off Democracy in the eu, the Citizens in the eu do no want have allah hu akhbar and isis in to europe...

hopefully i will not be in the war zone in europe when that happen

[Oziex1]

eu wipe Your own ass before you wipe somone else ass. the biggest problem in europe and eu is massive uregulated immigration by terrorist from the middle....

and what eu are doing they will but their Citizens in danger, it will results With war... eu memer states who refues to Accept refugees threatended With sanctions from eu brussel... lack off Democracy in the eu, the Citizens in the eu do no want have allah hu akhbar and isis in to europe...

hopefully i will not be in the war zone in europe when that happen

What has this rant got to do with Thais cleaning up their fishing industry?

[ldiablo]

Show the world of the world and especially Thailand that you have some balls and do what needs to be done.

[NOC]

Come on EU, put another nail in this coffin! It's the best thing you can do for the slave laborers, and for Thailand! Think it through, EU!

Edited October 2, 2015 by NOC

[dandythai]

Bapoboy, the morning fever ? did you take your med today ? too hot outside ? keep calm and do some research, it might surprise you, if you get the point

[Travel Dude]

eu wipe Your own ass before you wipe somone else ass. the biggest problem in europe and eu is massive uregulated immigration by terrorist from the middle....

and what eu are doing they will but their Citizens in danger, it will results With war... eu memer states who refues to Accept refugees threatended With sanctions from eu brussel... lack off Democracy in the eu, the Citizens in the eu do no want have allah hu akhbar and isis in to europe...

hopefully i will not be in the war zone in europe when that happen

I am afraid you are mixing up different things. I am sure Europe can multi task. The slavery conditions in the Thai fishing industry have nothing to do with the influx of people fleeing war zones.

And 2 questions for you:

1) Should EU not be concerned with where it's food is coming from? Should it accept to eat fish caught by slaves?

2) Would it be better to send the fleeing masses back, like Thailand send back the Uighurs, from which several have been killed right away once arrived back in China?

Don't be so selfish.

[quandow]

Thailand - the EU is broadcasting their punch. You have been given AMPLE time to fix this, you have ALL the resources you need IF YOU WANTED TO FIX THIS, so there will be absolutely NO EXCUSE if you get kicked in the nads over this.

Hubris will be the only REASON not to take measurable action.

[Srikcir]

If the current regime can actually produce convictions and/or solid enforcement actions such as interdiction and seizure of UII ships, the EU should at least hold Thaland to a yellow card or withdraw it completely. Acts of goodwill and expressions of hope will not save Thailand from a ban.

If the EU perceives that the military itself is part of the problem and does not show internal REFORM, its actions may be seen only as window dressing as it has absolute control over all government functions and main sources of public information. As such it can operate without the necessary checks and balances (aka transparency & accountability) to sustain real reform. Under that scenario the EU might issue a ban to pressure regime change.

[manhood]

Why EU waiting soooo long instead of taking action against the thai practice of fishing industry and lavour slavery, not only in fishing industry: ACT NOW!

In Thailand things change only if they feel PAIN

[hugh2121]

eu wipe Your own ass before you wipe somone else ass. the biggest problem in europe and eu is massive uregulated immigration by terrorist from the middle....

and what eu are doing they will but their Citizens in danger, it will results With war... eu memer states who refues to Accept refugees threatended With sanctions from eu brussel... lack off Democracy in the eu, the Citizens in the eu do no want have allah hu akhbar and isis in to europe...

hopefully i will not be in the war zone in europe when that happen

I am afraid you are mixing up different things. I am sure Europe can multi task. The slavery conditions in the Thai fishing industry have nothing to do with the influx of people fleeing war zones.

And 2 questions for you:

1) Should EU not be concerned with where it's food is coming from? Should it accept to eat fish caught by slaves?

2) Would it be better to send the fleeing masses back, like Thailand send back the Uighurs, from which several have been killed right away once arrived back in China?

Don't be so selfish.

Two totally different problems here.

Q 1) Answer YES it should be concerned and NO it should not accept fish caught by slaves.

Q 2) YES it would be better for EU countries to send them back. EU cannot afford to keep them and should not want their religious fanatics.

[Peung]

Give the Thai Government some credit! They have reduced slavery in the Thai fishing industry. (In fact their investigations into this in April 2015 opened the whole 'can of worms' Bengali/Rohingya migrant trafficking issue); they have introduced a trawler registration system into which illegal trailers cannot be registered; they have passed a new Fishery Law- first one since 1947 which introduces international standards of sustainability for the fishing industry ; and they have introduced a minimum cod end mesh size of 5cm on trawlers, which will reduce the environmental damage caused by trawling. Whether these will be enough to lift the yellow card is hard to say. But IMHO it would be hard on the Thais if they were to receive a second yellow and be sent off in the european fisheries export game.

[robblok]

Give the Thai Government some credit! They have reduced slavery in the Thai fishing industry. (In fact their investigations into this in April 2015 opened the whole 'can of worms' Bengali/Rohingya migrant trafficking issue); they have introduced a trawler registration system into which illegal trailers cannot be registered; they have passed a new Fishery Law- first one since 1947 which introduces international standards of sustainability for the fishing industry ; and they have introduced a minimum cod end mesh size of 5cm on trawlers, which will reduce the environmental damage caused by trawling. Whether these will be enough to lift the yellow card is hard to say. But IMHO it would be hard on the Thais if they were to receive a second yellow and be sent off in the european fisheries export game.

They either pass or fail, that is up to the EU , I agree there are improvements but they have to comply with all the rules not just a few. Also having the rules does not mean they are applied, we are in Thailand. I hope the EU does some undercover work too. Else they will only be able to inspect vessels and such that comply.

I don't blame the current government, they have done a lot but the neglect from previous governments has set them back a lot. Just improving a bit is not enough. They should follow the rules or face a ban. This is the only language they understand.

[dageurreotype]

How will the PM talk his way out of this little problem?

He won't have to. The EU will give them a pass. Self interest not sole preserve of the Thais.

[Baerboxer]

If the current regime can actually produce convictions and/or solid enforcement actions such as interdiction and seizure of UII ships, the EU should at least hold Thaland to a yellow card or withdraw it completely. Acts of goodwill and expressions of hope will not save Thailand from a ban.

If the EU perceives that the military itself is part of the problem and does not show internal REFORM, its actions may be seen only as window dressing as it has absolute control over all government functions and main sources of public information. As such it can operate without the necessary checks and balances (aka transparency & accountability) to sustain real reform. Under that scenario the EU might issue a ban to pressure regime change.

Perhaps you could enlighten us as to what actions all the previous regimes this century have taken to tackle these problems?

Won't take you long.

[Baerboxer]

Give the Thai Government some credit! They have reduced slavery in the Thai fishing industry. (In fact their investigations into this in April 2015 opened the whole 'can of worms' Bengali/Rohingya migrant trafficking issue); they have introduced a trawler registration system into which illegal trailers cannot be registered; they have passed a new Fishery Law- first one since 1947 which introduces international standards of sustainability for the fishing industry ; and they have introduced a minimum cod end mesh size of 5cm on trawlers, which will reduce the environmental damage caused by trawling. Whether these will be enough to lift the yellow card is hard to say. But IMHO it would be hard on the Thais if they were to receive a second yellow and be sent off in the european fisheries export game.

They either pass or fail, that is up to the EU , I agree there are improvements but they have to comply with all the rules not just a few. Also having the rules does not mean they are applied, we are in Thailand. I hope the EU does some undercover work too. Else they will only be able to inspect vessels and such that comply.

I don't blame the current government, they have done a lot but the neglect from previous governments has set them back a lot. Just improving a bit is not enough. They should follow the rules or face a ban. This is the only language they understand.

Successive Thai governments have just ignored all these issues. Finally the EU decides to vet it's suppliers.

They did something similar many years ago on products deriving from hoofed animals. They introduced a directive and one of the requirements was that all suppliers manufacturing products from any part of an hoofed animal must be able to produce certificates saying the slaughter house used was registered and met certain standards and was inspected and certified by vets. Thai suppliers were the first of all my global suppliers to meet this requirement

EU never followed anything up other than customs checking imported products had the required stamped documentation. The result here was some extra money in the pocket for some vets.

[Squeegee]

Sanctions on Thailand, let's hope so for Thailand's sake.

[Jim walker]

they are a bad lot these slave master Thais

[NOC]

Give the Thai Government some credit! They have reduced slavery in the Thai fishing industry. (In fact their investigations into this in April 2015 opened the whole 'can of worms' Bengali/Rohingya migrant trafficking issue); they have introduced a trawler registration system into which illegal trailers cannot be registered; they have passed a new Fishery Law- first one since 1947 which introduces international standards of sustainability for the fishing industry ; and they have introduced a minimum cod end mesh size of 5cm on trawlers, which will reduce the environmental damage caused by trawling. Whether these will be enough to lift the yellow card is hard to say. But IMHO it would be hard on the Thais if they were to receive a second yellow and be sent off in the european fisheries export game.

Quite obviously, you're either from Thailand, or you drank the kool aid.

How can you even consider being merciful to a people who have had nothing but unmitigated contempt for another?

[Sam Jones]

Ban them to Hell these Slave-owners ...