Thailand Confident the Country Will Pass Fishery Audit by the EU Next Week
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s fishing industry will be facing an audit by the European Union next week. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon is confident that the country’s efforts to reduce illegal fishing will result in the country passing the audit next week. The audit will take place between January 18 and January 22, and the results will determine if the country has its international standings upgraded.

During a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Gen. Prawit presented a report on the country’s efforts over the past eight months to curb illegal fishing. Anti-IUU efforts show that the country has incorporated the relevant laws and regulations in an attempt to circumvent an EU ban on Thailand’s fishing industry.

The country currently maintains 2,216 fishing boats that have a gross weight of 60 tons. According to the report, 94% of the vessels have monitoring devices equipped, and a real time system has been put in place to manage both licenses and warnings in accordance with IUU violations.

Full story: http://ethailand.com/business-news/thailand-confident-the-country-will-pass-fishery-audit-by-the-eu-next-week/1332/

-- eThailand 2016-01-13

We shall see, Mr DPM, we shall see.

But I would not be holding my breath if I were you.

Do the 94% of vessels that have monitoring devices still also have slave labour? That's the question he should be answering.

It is all politics if the EU decides to ban Thai fishery products, Thailand will be driven even more in to the hands of the Chinese, something the EU is still trying to avoid.

I expect no ban, and business as usual.

The EU is flapping about like a headless chicken, it has no idea what to do.

He keeps spinning the illegal fishing mantra when the issue is slave labor practices.

Thai Government was confident it would be upgraded to Tier 2 on the Trafficking in Persons report. Thai Government was confident it would pass the US airlines safety inspection.

He keeps spinning the illegal fishing mantra when the issue is slave labor practices.

No. The EU issue is about illegal practices.

They were confident they would pass the FAA inspection also.

Implementing laws one can believe, enforcing them is another thing.

The country currently maintains 2,216 fishing boats that have a gross weight of 60 tons.

Where are the other 40,000 or so reportedly unregistered now then ?

Well, we all know Prawit is completely lost, and about as out of touch as they come. He has no idea what he is talking about. The total Thai fishing fleet is 60 tons? That is a good one.

In reality, the way I see it, is that the issue the EU has with the fleet is not really about proper licensing of the boats. That is churlish deflection by the authorities, who do not want to admit the extent of the problem with regard to slave trading, and human trafficking. Too much money is being made. There is also the question of whether or not companies such as Thai Union would be able to remain as profitable as they are, without slave labor. That is not really being addressed. How many CEO's have been arrested to date? How many officials have gone to prison over this massively tragic situation? Why is this not being discussed in the UN? Unless, and until Thailand starts to address the issue of slavery, and starts making some meaningful progress with effective solutions, arrests of top guys, imprisonment, and enormous fines, confiscation of fleets, etc, the world will continue to look upon the Thai fishing industry with great suspicion.

Well, we all know Prawit is completely lost, and about as out of touch as they come. He has no idea what he is talking about. The total Thai fishing fleet is 60 tons? That is a good one.

In reality, the way I see it, is that the issue the EU has with the fleet is not really about proper licensing of the boats. That is churlish deflection by the authorities, who do not want to admit the extent of the problem with regard to slave trading, and human trafficking. Too much money is being made. There is also the question of whether or not companies such as Thai Union would be able to remain as profitable as they are, without slave labor. That is not really being addressed. How many CEO's have been arrested to date? How many officials have gone to prison over this massively tragic situation? Why is this not being discussed in the UN? Unless, and until Thailand starts to address the issue of slavery, and starts making some meaningful progress with effective solutions, arrests of top guys, imprisonment, and enormous fines, confiscation of fleets, etc, the world will continue to look upon the Thai fishing industry with great suspicion.

Agree with all your points except ' the world will continue to look upon the Thai fishing industry with great suspicion. ' As people like 'cheap' and don't really care how it gets to be so.

...and if they don't pass, it is of course the fault of the pesky foreigners, not understanding Thailand and his "specialness"!

They Attempted to do a few things That does Not mean they have Done them,,They Admitting that themselves,,,,In My book that is a Fail,,,

Im sure a few prawns will be slipped under the table...

It is all politics if the EU decides to ban Thai fishery products, Thailand will be driven even more in to the hands of the Chinese, something the EU is still trying to avoid.

I expect no ban, and business as usual.

You are so right. I have followed this closely in the EU. And yes, my opinion is like yours. They are not going to ban Thailand. To much politics and Investments, but on the paper the EU has done something and washed the hands. That's also why US is doing nothing to

I will be very surprised if they ban.

Edited January 13, 201610 yr by carstenp

Sure they are always very confident