IUU fishing: EU 'unlikely to withdraw' yellow card in December

[webfact]

EU 'unlikely to withdraw' yellow card in December
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE European Union is unlikely to revoke the "yellow card" it issued to Thailand over illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices, when it reconsiders the issue in December this year, according to industry sources.

The 28-member EU was earlier supposed to review Thailand's status this month after having given six months - since April this year - to solve the IUU problems. However, the review was recently postponed to the end of this year.

Given the various legal and other measures taken by Thai authorities and the time-consuming process of effective implementation, it is likely that the yellow card will stay for another six months, according to sources.

Another scenario is that the yellow card will be withdrawn in December if the EU is satisfied with the measures taken by Thailand.

Over the past six months, Thai fishery exporters have faced some impacts from enforcement of the stringent rules on fishing practices, resulting in a shortage of raw materials and a slight drop in export sales.

Industry optimistic

However, the industry is optimistic, expecting the hard work done so far to solve the IUU problems to bear fruit with the removal of the EU yellow card so that business may return to normal soon.

Poj Aramwattananont, president of Thai Frozen Foods Association, said Thai authorities are heading in the right direction and the EU is expected to withdraw the yellow card soon.

Over the past several months, global demand for seafood has also slowed due to the sluggish economy.

"In the past several months, none of the EU firms have banned or reduced imports from Thailand. Thai companies have tried to create good understanding and show our buyers that we're taking action to follow good labour and other practices," Poj said, adding the industry will enjoy a more sustainable growth path once IUU problems are solved.

According to Commerce Ministry and Customs Department figures, Thai shipments of preserved and prepared fish and fishery products to the EU dropped 6.18 per cent in the first eight months of this year to US$14.8 billion. The EU is Thailand's fourth-largest market for fishery products after Asean, the United States, and Japan. Exports to the EU accounted by 10.29 per cent of the Kingdom's total shipment value.

Last year, exports of fishery products to the EU rose 4.36 per cent to $23.66 billion.

Thai fishery exports totalled $144.86 billion in the first eight months of this year, which was down by 5.01 per cent. Last year, total Thai fishery exports were worth $229 billion, down 0.42 per cent year on year.

Nopporn Thepsithar, chairman of Thai National Shippers Council, said if the government and private enterprises continued to work with the EU to combat illegal fishing activities and promoted sustainable practices, it was highly unlikely the EU would impose a ban by issuing Thailand a red card.

Adequate efforts being made

He said the private sector remained optimistic, as there were ongoing efforts to counter such issues, which are linked to human trafficking, and the Kingdom is in the process of enforcing laws to improve the protection of labour in the fishery industry in a more sustainable way.

Not only have large enterprises already adjusted themselves, but even small and medium-sized fishing boats and related fishery industrial enterprises have also learnt to adapt themselves to do fishing in a more environmentally friendly manner.

Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn hopes the EU will see the results of the government's efforts and the private sector's cooperation and there should be no sanctions on Thai fishery products shipped to their market.

Pornsilp Patchrintanakul, adviser to the Board of Trade of Thailand, said the yellow card has been seen as an opportunity to move forward the Thai fishing industry towards more sustainable fisheries management and conservation of marine resources.

He expected the EU to withdraw the yellow card warning on Thai fishing in December, as Thailand has been solving the IUU problems seriously.

Among the measures already implemented are enactment of laws and regulations for registration of all big and small fishing vessels, foreign labour in fishing industry, vessel monitoring system and port-in-port-out requirement for vessels of over 30 tonnes.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/EU-unlikely-to-withdraw-yellow-card-in-December-30271578.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-26

[ClutchClark]

"However, the industry is optimistic, expecting the hard work done so far to solve the IUU problems to bear fruit with the removal of the EU yellow card so that business may return to normal soon."

And, therein lies the problem...that the fishing industry practices return to normal.

I only hope the Yellow Card remains another six months.

[NongKhaiKid]

If the yellow card remains in place be ready for ' unfair, doing their best, foreigners don't understand ' and all the other usual and overused excuses that mean nothing.

[selftaopath]

"However, the industry is optimistic, expecting the hard work done so far to solve the IUU problems to bear fruit with the removal of the EU yellow card so that business may return to normal soon."

And, therein lies the problem...that the fishing industry practices return to normal.

I only hope the Yellow Card remains another six months.

I would applaud a red card.

Delusion, justification, rationalization runs rampant in Lack of Sanctions (LOS).

I had to chuckle at this " and the Kingdom is in the process of enforcing laws."

LOL oh myyyyy

[Laughing Gravy]

The article seems very confident, either having some inside information that backhand deal has been done or the writer is 'clutching at straws' and is hopelessly optimistic.

[MZurf]

The article seems very confident, either having some inside information that backhand deal has been done or the writer is 'clutching at straws' and is hopelessly optimistic.

Hopelessly optimistic or thoroughly confused?

[lvr181]

Dear Europe,

Our Government is trying! We keep telling you we are trying. You do not understand.

Yeah, very trying and not totally committed to an immediate or on time successful conclusion to the problem.

[Srikcir]

"Thai fishery exporters have faced some impacts from enforcement of the stringent rules on fishing practices, resulting in a shortage of raw materials and a slight drop in export sales."

But not a shortage in revenues when the government compensates the boat owners for NOT FISHING due to their protests to NOT COMPLY with UII requirements. That won't get the EU to cancel its yellow card.

[Yme]

Thai authorities have done quiet a lot in fact and generally have the support of boat owners.

The Pi-PO system is working, boats and catches are being inspected, crew are being checked to ensure legality and health, and around the country many boats have been impounded/ refused permission to leave port. The navy, Marine Dept, Fisheries Dept, and Water Police WILL impound vessels caught in breach.

A yellow card for an extra six months will be additional incentive to maintain the pressure and in all probability will not phase the government at all.

[ParadiseLost]

Do they investigate why truckloads of seafood are being transported from a tourist island to the mainland? Doesn't this defy logic?

An unfortunate slip-up could expose some shady dealings if my suspicions are correct: "Ferry Incident", Koh Samui.

[ClutchClark]

Do they investigate why truckloads of seafood are being transported from a tourist island to the mainland? Doesn't this defy logic?

An unfortunate slip-up could expose some shady dealings if my suspicions are correct: "Ferry Incident", Koh Samui.

I am not clear on why this defies logic.

It could be that its the most economical and time efficient method of transport which allows the boats to get quickly back out to sea rather than having each of them spend time and fuel going to the mainland.

The cost of a truck on the ferry is much less than a fishing boat making the same trip.

Not to say this is the case but in and of itself I do not see the issue.

Cheers

[spidermike007]

Thai authorities have done quiet a lot in fact and generally have the support of boat owners.

The Pi-PO system is working, boats and catches are being inspected, crew are being checked to ensure legality and health, and around the country many boats have been impounded/ refused permission to leave port. The navy, Marine Dept, Fisheries Dept, and Water Police WILL impound vessels caught in breach.

A yellow card for an extra six months will be additional incentive to maintain the pressure and in all probability will not phase the government at all.

And nowhere, in any of this, is the most important issue being discussed. There are thousands of slaves working on those very boats. Are they being rescued? Is there documentation being checked, when these boats are being inspected, or is there too much money at stake here? That goes to the very heart of what the primary complaints from the EU, and the US are all about. And NOBODY is talking about it, within the Thai government. The silence is deafening.

[Peung]

It is significant that the talk has changed from 'fear of a red card at the end of October' to the likelihood of a 'continuation of a yellow card at the end of the year'. Since the yellow card was issued in April 2015, the Thai Government has progressed far better than many thought possible on the decades-old problems of boat registration and tracking, illegal fishing gears, environmental destruction, human trafficking and slave labour. Previous governments had failed miserably to even begin addressing the many illegal practices that were resulting in acute human and environmental misery.

[Yme]

Thai authorities have done quiet a lot in fact and generally have the support of boat owners.

The Pi-PO system is working, boats and catches are being inspected, crew are being checked to ensure legality and health, and around the country many boats have been impounded/ refused permission to leave port. The navy, Marine Dept, Fisheries Dept, and Water Police WILL impound vessels caught in breach.

A yellow card for an extra six months will be additional incentive to maintain the pressure and in all probability will not phase the government at all.

And nowhere, in any of this, is the most important issue being discussed. There are thousands of slaves working on those very boats. Are they being rescued? Is there documentation being checked, when these boats are being inspected, or is there too much money at stake here? That goes to the very heart of what the primary complaints from the EU, and the US are all about. And NOBODY is talking about it, within the Thai government. The silence is deafening.

The crew of all boats is being checked at the PiPo centres and on the water. Many of the undocumented workers have been legalised, others deported.