Thai fishing operators cry foul

[webfact]

FISHERY
Fishing operators cry foul
PRATCH RUJIVANAROM,
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI,
JITRAPORN SENWONG
THE NATION



Large firms say new rules harm business; local fishermen still poorly informed

BANGKOK: -- THE NEW Fisheries Emergency decree endorsed by the National Legislative Assembly last week has been strongly criticised by small and large operators, but the government insists it will strictly enforce the law to solve the country's illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing problems.

Sek Wannamethee, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said the European Union was expected to send a delegation to Thailand next month to follow up on the authorities' progress in tackling IUU issues after a "yellow card" warning was issued against Thailand earlier this year.

Vice Admiral Jumpol Lumpikanon, spokesman for the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing, said strict enforcement of the new law should encourage the EU to upgrade Thailand's status in terms of IUU issues.

Somsak Paneetatyasai, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, said government agencies and private enterprises were also seriously tackling the problem of forced labour and child labour in the fisheries industry, especially with regards to a recent Associated Press report on small shrimp-peeling sheds in Samut Sakorn using forced labour.

He said these small operators would be removed from the supply chain immediately if they were found to have used forced labour and child labour, adding that larger enterprises which were members of his association had agreed to take action against these illegal practices.

The new fisheries law includes penalties that will lead to a factory being shut down if it is found to have used illegal workers.

Article 11 of the law states that factories are subject to business suspensions of between 10 and 30 days if they are found to employ less than five illegal workers. If the number of illegal workers exceeds five, the factories concerned will be shut down for an extended period and repeated wrongdoing will lead to the nullification of factory licences.

While Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has expressed support for officials enforcing the law strictly, small local fishermen and large fisheries businesses have complained that the law affects their rights and the punishments are too severe for business operators.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Min-ister General Chatchai Sarikalya said Thailand needed the new law because the previous Fisheries Act 2015 could not solve the IUU problems efficiently while monitoring and controlling measures were absent for fishing activities in Thai and international waters.

However, Monkol Sukcharenkana, vice president of Thailand Fisheries Association, said some articles of the new law such as Article 11 were too severe, as processing plants could be closed if illegal foreign workers were found on their premises.

Resources at risk

Monkol said Article 169 of the law allowed authorities to seize fishing equipment and fishing vessels when violations of the law occur.

"This can hurt our business," he said, adding that Article 44, which bars the trading of fishing vessels and fishing licences, also violated the rights of fisheries business owners.

Banjong Nasae of the Thai Sea Watch Association said the decree was not aimed at preserving marine resources, but it would have negative impacts on the fishing industry.

"This law bans local fishermen, which consist of 80 per cent of all fishing vessels, from fishing beyond the territorial waters, about three nautical miles up to 12 nautical miles from the shore," Banjong said, in reference to Article 34.

"Therefore, this allows the majority of local fishermen to fish within only less than five per cent of the coastal areas of the country, while opening up opportunities for more than 90 per cent of the areas to the big operators."

He said many traditional fishing activities needed to go beyond the territorial sea but these activities, such as trawling for crabs, could now not be done under the threat of heavy penalties.

Authorities admit glitches

"The law also requires all local fishermen to have a fishing licence from the authorities and it does not allow the unregistered fishing vessels to operate," he said. "This rule seems to be very good but in practice it is very problematic to the local fishermen who mostly own small rafts and boats which are not registered."

Banjong said the law was drafted only to help the big seafood industry avoid trade sanctions, with the government imposing very strict measures just to pass the EU standard for solving IUU problems.

He said there was no public participation in the drafting of the law, so many local fishermen did not know or understand the new fishing rules. This would cause them more problems rather than preserve the marine supply sustainably.

Last Friday, there was a conflict in Pattani when officials tried to arrest local fishermen for violating the fishing rules. The officials were attacked and had to abort their mission.

Government Spokesman Maj-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the prime minister was informed of the incident, and he encouraged officials to continue enforcing the law strictly while calling on local authorities to help affected fishermen by providing them with compensation and finding alternative jobs for them.

Vice Admiral Jumpol of Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing said the strict measures would help upgrade the country's fishing standards.

However, he admitted doing so would take some time since the country had not imposed controls on the use of fishing equipment for a long time.

He said Thailand had complied with 13 EU suggestions on fishing practices and was ready for the next EU inspection in January.

Somsak of the Thai Shrimp Association said all operators in the seafood supply chain had to comply with the new law and warned factories that they risked closure if the authorities found illegal workers on their premises.

Under the new law, the use of illegal labour is subject to fines of between Bt400,000 and Bt800,000 per case, while factory operators are also subject to imprisonment of up to two years.

For shrimp peeling sheds, Somsak said, there were now about 50 operators registered with authorities to ensure they followed the guidelines on good practices, while the rest had been encouraged to register.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fishing-operators-cry-foul-30275338.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-21

[Plutojames88]

Regardless of rhetoric designed for international digestion on this issue and hopeful appeasement of world markets.

The time has come to impose sanctions.

The PM was unapologetic and did not acknowledge the systemic use of slave labour or the long over due time it has had to act.

Too little too late is the appropriate mantra on this matter.

The only reason any action was taken was the hope of stalling sanctions .

The military involvement in this practice goes way up high and the basic reality is the lip service of such articles here do little to convince officials who report in the continued use.

It's abhorrent that the article calls their complaints foul.

Like its a game presided over.

It's human suffering and slavery , and death in the 21 st century ..crimes against humanity no less.

And we have no less than the PM say its irresponsible to tarnish Thailand's good name by calling it out?

Really?

What good name.?

Thailand is on the lowest tier of human rights abuses as it is. (Tier 3)

And it acts with scant regard for human abuses

You allow protests against Embassies even though under enforced articles usually forbid it.

Why?

Because they object to people rotting in prison over free speech.

It's insidious to even contemplate buying Thai seafood for that matter until such arrogance is addressed.

They are not saying ""look we are deeply sorry""...,,""give us more time"" ...they are chastising us for even being critical of their uncaring elitist disdain for the poor.

Let them have their golden dreams and crispy regal uniforms and class systems that exclude most of the populace.

Let them use slaves , jail people and crush freedoms.

But for Christ sake make it clear they won't be purchased on world markets.

And eventually will be treated as a rogue state if they don't start complying with civilised Norms and go back to democracy .

Something we all now know is not on the horizon .

So the only thing we can do is say ""enough is enough""

Hit their seafood industry hard.

Then demand LM convictions be over turned .

Again if they refuse step up things .

Treat it as the South Africans were treated .( under their system)

Ban them from sporting events

Olympics

Soccer bodies .

Impose travel tariffs

Limit their international couriers from operations.

Boycott their rice.

Eventually they will bend to our will and the human rights abuses may ease.

Face and money is their Language this is key to punishments.

When the propaganda is hopeless and the bans wide spread.

Such as next years games.

That would wound the non elected government mortally.

But the first step is imposing without much further delay sanctions.

Then really pushing them on LM Laws being unacceptable

[carstenp]

First I must say. Great post with many good points. I agree with you about the language in Thailand is money and face. Like you say is the is the best there can happen to stop the IUU.

You want the eu and proberly the U.S to ban the export from Thailand, but as I see it and been reading from the Eu sites, it's not going to happen. My opinion of this, there is to much politic and investments in this.

To many investments here in Thailand from EU, U.S. So a ban will not happen. EU has always been a talker and no action. This is about saving face and show we are doing something

Like some days ago, the EU already says the country already doing a good work on the iuu issue.

[Thian]

Is this how they transport fish to the main land? No ice?

[stickylies]

Ok. Next please... Kin kaow yang?

[Ks45672]

Is this how they transport fish to the main land? No ice?

I doubt they have ice making our cooling facilities on the smaller boats.... The article says many unlicensed fishermen are working from small boats and rafts....

[Thian]

Is this how they transport fish to the main land? No ice?

I doubt they have ice making our cooling facilities on the smaller boats.... The article says many unlicensed fishermen are working from small boats and rafts....

They can bring ice on the boat when they go fishing.

This way the fish will be cooked before they reach the shore.

[aussieinthailand]

The kicker for me is that se of these people have the audacity cry foul, saying this like the laws are affecting their business impact on there rights,

So what about the impact on the workers their families and their rights?

Then there are statements in related posts like people that report this are twisting the facts, and untruths, calling for sympathy, the sympathy is reserved for the victims not the perpetrator's, what the???

I just hope no one makes a cut n paste of the story like the Reuters article and the Thai navy, case they will go after the little guy and let the big players alone as history shows.

[arrowsdawdle]

Are Thai fishing operators crying foul because they are chicken?

[bark]

Regardless of rhetoric designed for international digestion on this issue and hopeful appeasement of world markets.

The time has come to impose sanctions.

The PM was unapologetic and did not acknowledge the systemic use of slave labour or the long over due time it has had to act.

Too little too late is the appropriate mantra on this matter.

The only reason any action was taken was the hope of stalling sanctions .

The military involvement in this practice goes way up high and the basic reality is the lip service of such articles here do little to convince officials who report in the continued use.

It's abhorrent that the article calls their complaints foul.

Like its a game presided over.

It's human suffering and slavery , and death in the 21 st century ..crimes against humanity no less.

And we have no less than the PM say its irresponsible to tarnish Thailand's good name by calling it out?

Really?

What good name.?

Thailand is on the lowest tier of human rights abuses as it is. (Tier 3)

And it acts with scant regard for human abuses

You allow protests against Embassies even though under enforced articles usually forbid it.

Why?

Because they object to people rotting in prison over free speech.

It's insidious to even contemplate buying Thai seafood for that matter until such arrogance is addressed.

They are not saying ""look we are deeply sorry""...,,""give us more time"" ...they are chastising us for even being critical of their uncaring elitist disdain for the poor.

Let them have their golden dreams and crispy regal uniforms and class systems that exclude most of the populace.

Let them use slaves , jail people and crush freedoms.

But for Christ sake make it clear they won't be purchased on world markets.

And eventually will be treated as a rogue state if they don't start complying with civilised Norms and go back to democracy .

Something we all now know is not on the horizon .

So the only thing we can do is say ""enough is enough""

Hit their seafood industry hard.

Then demand LM convictions be over turned .

Again if they refuse step up things .

Treat it as the South Africans were treated .( under their system)

Ban them from sporting events

Olympics

Soccer bodies .

Impose travel tariffs

Limit their international couriers from operations.

Boycott their rice.

Eventually they will bend to our will and the human rights abuses may ease.

Face and money is their Language this is key to punishments.

When the propaganda is hopeless and the bans wide spread.

Such as next years games.

That would wound the non elected government mortally.

But the first step is imposing without much further delay sanctions.

Then really pushing them on LM Laws being unacceptable

Why do you think this is only a problem in Thailand ? Indonesia, Vietnam, China, all have the same thing going on. But the news reporters do not want to travel to these countries and send a month there. Thailand, Great food, Great girls, Lots of English speaking people. This is why they report so much on Thailand !!

[Ks45672]

Regardless of rhetoric designed for international digestion on this issue and hopeful appeasement of world markets.

The time has come to impose sanctions.

The PM was unapologetic and did not acknowledge the systemic use of slave labour or the long over due time it has had to act.

Too little too late is the appropriate mantra on this matter.

The only reason any action was taken was the hope of stalling sanctions .

The military involvement in this practice goes way up high and the basic reality is the lip service of such articles here do little to convince officials who report in the continued use.

It's abhorrent that the article calls their complaints foul.

Like its a game presided over.

It's human suffering and slavery , and death in the 21 st century ..crimes against humanity no less.

And we have no less than the PM say its irresponsible to tarnish Thailand's good name by calling it out?

Really?

What good name.?

Thailand is on the lowest tier of human rights abuses as it is. (Tier 3)

And it acts with scant regard for human abuses

You allow protests against Embassies even though under enforced articles usually forbid it.

Why?

Because they object to people rotting in prison over free speech.

It's insidious to even contemplate buying Thai seafood for that matter until such arrogance is addressed.

They are not saying ""look we are deeply sorry""...,,""give us more time"" ...they are chastising us for even being critical of their uncaring elitist disdain for the poor.

Let them have their golden dreams and crispy regal uniforms and class systems that exclude most of the populace.

Let them use slaves , jail people and crush freedoms.

But for Christ sake make it clear they won't be purchased on world markets.

And eventually will be treated as a rogue state if they don't start complying with civilised Norms and go back to democracy .

Something we all now know is not on the horizon .

So the only thing we can do is say ""enough is enough""

Hit their seafood industry hard.

Then demand LM convictions be over turned .

Again if they refuse step up things .

Treat it as the South Africans were treated .( under their system)

Ban them from sporting events

Olympics

Soccer bodies .

Impose travel tariffs

Limit their international couriers from operations.

Boycott their rice.

Eventually they will bend to our will and the human rights abuses may ease.

Face and money is their Language this is key to punishments.

When the propaganda is hopeless and the bans wide spread.

Such as next years games.

That would wound the non elected government mortally.

But the first step is imposing without much further delay sanctions.

Then really pushing them on LM Laws being unacceptable

Why do you think this is only a problem in Thailand ? Indonesia, Vietnam, China, all have the same thing going on. But the news reporters do not want to travel to these countries and send a month there. Thailand, Great food, Great girls, Lots of English speaking people. This is why they report so much on Thailand !!

The human rights in most of Asia need to be upgraded but just because they're maybe terrible things happening in China or somewhere else doesn't mean Thailand should be allowed to use children as slaves etc

Hopefully other nations will keep focus on this issue until it hurts them in the pocket.... They won't understand anything else like silly warnings to improve conditions....

[retarius]

"He said these small operators would be removed from the supply chain immediately if they were found to have used forced labour and child labour, adding that larger enterprises which were members of his association had agreed to take action against these illegal practices"

Agreeing to something and 'taking action' is not the same thing, especially if profit will take a hit from said action.

In the article I notice that the penalties for using less than 5 slaves (illegals) is possibly having your factory closed for 10 day; while for using more than 5 slaves you may have your factory license revoked meaning that your wife or children would have the trouble of getting one so that you can still keep operating without paying under the table so much to local police and military. Seems to me that for using slaves you should have all your wealth confiscated and you should spend a considerable time in a jail cell.

[retarius]

Regardless of rhetoric designed for international digestion on this issue and hopeful appeasement of world markets.

The time has come to impose sanctions.

The PM was unapologetic and did not acknowledge the systemic use of slave labour or the long over due time it has had to act.

Too little too late is the appropriate mantra on this matter.

The only reason any action was taken was the hope of stalling sanctions .

The military involvement in this practice goes way up high and the basic reality is the lip service of such articles here do little to convince officials who report in the continued use.

It's abhorrent that the article calls their complaints foul.

Like its a game presided over.

It's human suffering and slavery , and death in the 21 st century ..crimes against humanity no less.

And we have no less than the PM say its irresponsible to tarnish Thailand's good name by calling it out?

Really?

What good name.?

Thailand is on the lowest tier of human rights abuses as it is. (Tier 3)

And it acts with scant regard for human abuses

You allow protests against Embassies even though under enforced articles usually forbid it.

Why?

Because they object to people rotting in prison over free speech.

It's insidious to even contemplate buying Thai seafood for that matter until such arrogance is addressed.

They are not saying ""look we are deeply sorry""...,,""give us more time"" ...they are chastising us for even being critical of their uncaring elitist disdain for the poor.

Let them have their golden dreams and crispy regal uniforms and class systems that exclude most of the populace.

Let them use slaves , jail people and crush freedoms.

But for Christ sake make it clear they won't be purchased on world markets.

And eventually will be treated as a rogue state if they don't start complying with civilised Norms and go back to democracy .

Something we all now know is not on the horizon .

So the only thing we can do is say ""enough is enough""

Hit their seafood industry hard.

Then demand LM convictions be over turned .

Again if they refuse step up things .

Treat it as the South Africans were treated .( under their system)

Ban them from sporting events

Olympics

Soccer bodies .

Impose travel tariffs

Limit their international couriers from operations.

Boycott their rice.

Eventually they will bend to our will and the human rights abuses may ease.

Face and money is their Language this is key to punishments.

When the propaganda is hopeless and the bans wide spread.

Such as next years games.

That would wound the non elected government mortally.

But the first step is imposing without much further delay sanctions.

Then really pushing them on LM Laws being unacceptable

Why do you think this is only a problem in Thailand ? Indonesia, Vietnam, China, all have the same thing going on. But the news reporters do not want to travel to these countries and send a month there. Thailand, Great food, Great girls, Lots of English speaking people. This is why they report so much on Thailand !!

Because other countries are doing it doesn't make if ok to continue illegal fishing and slavery in Thailand. It's not ok, these are people's lives that you so callously dismiss.

[ClutchClark]

If the legislation favors corporate factory-scale fishing fleets over local family-owned operations then these fisherman really do have a legitimate reason to complain.

If the laws are not applied equally then this is simply more Thai corruption and legislation being passed by politicians for their own personal gain.

As for kids on family run fishing boats being made illegal...this is a terrible blow to those kids. What next? Kids not allowed to work on the family farm? Or the family shop?

I know we all hate Thai fisherman for their constant abuses to both workers and over-exploitation of the marine resources but don't let blind hatred cloud over your ability to see this is bad legislation.

Why does TV have so many haters?

[ClutchClark]

See all those sodium bulbs strung across the decks?

When those burn out they just toss them into the sea.

When you walk the beaches of Thailand in the early morning, you can find dozens washed ashore.

[Ks45672]

See all those sodium bulbs strung across the decks?

When those burn out they just toss them into the sea.

When you walk the beaches of Thailand in the early morning, you can find dozens washed ashore.

Someone should open a recycling business then... If they had any value they wouldn't be there anymore.... I've seen people outside My house checking what's in the garbage before so if it anyone cared this would not happen....

Easy solution is to impose a tax on the manufacturer to take back the empty ones before they're allowed to sell another box or the shop to offer a discount price for another 24 pack if they return 24used ones etc

That would solve it overnight...

[ClutchClark]

See all those sodium bulbs strung across the decks?

When those burn out they just toss them into the sea.

When you walk the beaches of Thailand in the early morning, you can find dozens washed ashore.

Someone should open a recycling business then... If they had any value they wouldn't be there anymore.... I've seen people outside My house checking what's in the garbage before so if it anyone cared this would not happen....

Easy solution is to impose a tax on the manufacturer to take back the empty ones before they're allowed to sell another box or the shop to offer a discount price for another 24 pack if they return 24used ones etc

That would solve it overnight...

One problem would be that the deposit value to make it worth while to save these bulbs would have to be quite high...and if it were that high then the bulbs would constantly be stolen for their deposit value.

Its just another example of how Thais who are dependent on the ocean for their livelihood act constantly against their own long-term interests by destroying it.

Not just Thais. Did you see the recent BBC article about the Chinese fisherman who are destroying coral reefs intentionally to harvest one type of marine species?

[Ks45672]

See all those sodium bulbs strung across the decks?

When those burn out they just toss them into the sea.

When you walk the beaches of Thailand in the early morning, you can find dozens washed ashore.

Someone should open a recycling business then... If they had any value they wouldn't be there anymore.... I've seen people outside My house checking what's in the garbage before so if it anyone cared this would not happen....

Easy solution is to impose a tax on the manufacturer to take back the empty ones before they're allowed to sell another box or the shop to offer a discount price for another 24 pack if they return 24used ones etc

That would solve it overnight...

One problem would be that the deposit value to make it worth while to save these bulbs would have to be quite high...and if it were that high then the bulbs would constantly be stolen for their deposit value.

Its just another example of how Thais who are dependent on the ocean for their livelihood act constantly against their own long-term interests by destroying it.

Not just Thais. Did you see the recent BBC article about the Chinese fisherman who are destroying coral reefs intentionally to harvest one type of marine species?

When I worked in Ireland they made a 15p tax on plastic bags in every shop because the population was dumping them everywhere.... People started reusing bags and buying ones made of cloth and stuff

It was a major success.... Nothing new, just make it cost something.... Germany and Canada do the same with beer bottles so there is an incentive not to throw them away

Talk to the boss who has influence over the wages of the crew , use article 44 if necessary to insist that they manufacturer take the empty ones back and recycling ...

Nothing new, just copy ideas that worked for other countries decades ago...

[Srikcir]

"the previous Fisheries Act 2015 could not solve the IUU problems efficiently while monitoring and controlling measures were absent for fishing activities in Thai and international waters."

Prayut stated in 2015 he would get Thailand in compliance to satisfy EU's UII concerns and he has failed. If the EU red cards Thailand seafood, there will be only the government to blame - himself.

[Oziex1]

Regardless of rhetoric designed for international digestion on this issue and hopeful appeasement of world markets.

The time has come to impose sanctions.

The PM was unapologetic and did not acknowledge the systemic use of slave labour or the long over due time it has had to act.

Too little too late is the appropriate mantra on this matter.

The only reason any action was taken was the hope of stalling sanctions .

The military involvement in this practice goes way up high and the basic reality is the lip service of such articles here do little to convince officials who report in the continued use.

It's abhorrent that the article calls their complaints foul.

Like its a game presided over.

It's human suffering and slavery , and death in the 21 st century ..crimes against humanity no less.

And we have no less than the PM say its irresponsible to tarnish Thailand's good name by calling it out?

Really?

What good name.?

Thailand is on the lowest tier of human rights abuses as it is. (Tier 3)

And it acts with scant regard for human abuses

You allow protests against Embassies even though under enforced articles usually forbid it.

Why?

Because they object to people rotting in prison over free speech.

It's insidious to even contemplate buying Thai seafood for that matter until such arrogance is addressed.

They are not saying ""look we are deeply sorry""...,,""give us more time"" ...they are chastising us for even being critical of their uncaring elitist disdain for the poor.

Let them have their golden dreams and crispy regal uniforms and class systems that exclude most of the populace.

Let them use slaves , jail people and crush freedoms.

But for Christ sake make it clear they won't be purchased on world markets.

And eventually will be treated as a rogue state if they don't start complying with civilised Norms and go back to democracy .

Something we all now know is not on the horizon .

So the only thing we can do is say ""enough is enough""

Hit their seafood industry hard.

Then demand LM convictions be over turned .

Again if they refuse step up things .

Treat it as the South Africans were treated .( under their system)

Ban them from sporting events

Olympics

Soccer bodies .

Impose travel tariffs

Limit their international couriers from operations.

Boycott their rice.

Eventually they will bend to our will and the human rights abuses may ease.

Face and money is their Language this is key to punishments.

When the propaganda is hopeless and the bans wide spread.

Such as next years games.

That would wound the non elected government mortally.

But the first step is imposing without much further delay sanctions.

Then really pushing them on LM Laws being unacceptable

Why do you think this is only a problem in Thailand ? Indonesia, Vietnam, China, all have the same thing going on. But the news reporters do not want to travel to these countries and send a month there. Thailand, Great food, Great girls, Lots of English speaking people. This is why they report so much on Thailand !!

And the reason you know these countries you mention as being involved in similar actions as Thailand is?

Being exposed by journalists, reporters and NGO's that spent some time in the countries no doubt.

We discuss Thailand because we are on TV.com, simple.

[seajae]

you have to laugh at the stupidity of these fishermen, they are unlicensed and have unregistered boats and use illegal equipment but cry foul when they are caught out and say it is unfair to make them comply. The sight of fish simply sitting on a hot deck in the sun is bullsh*t, they would be breaking down and going off that fast it isnt funny, they could at least have a hold set aside for them but that would require a bit of thinking and extra work. I dont eat seafood in Thailand due to the sh*tful taste and the way they treat it, lack of freshness/ice to keep it chilled is the major cause of food poisoning and these so called fisherman are the reason it is so sh*tful, the sooner they are removed from the system the better. They dont comply with the law burn their boats and equipment, time to stop letting them get away with their bullsh*t.

[tigermoth]

Is this how they transport fish to the main land? No ice?

I doubt they have ice making our cooling facilities on the smaller boats.... The article says many unlicensed fishermen are working from small boats and rafts....

If you have ever been to one of the small fishing villages you will see that the vast majority of the fish and prawn unloaded at the dockside are still alive. Even at the markets in the small towns many of the fish are still alive.

[Oziex1]

https://vimeo.com/116772352

Presented by an NGO, a vicious cycle of greed HR abuse and environmental destruction.