Thailand Seeks Measured Response to EU Fishing Ban

In a move that affects an industry worth over $6 billion that stretches across two continents, the EU has warned Thailand that it must fix human rights abuses such as child slavery in its fishing industry.

Earlier this week, the EU said it would give the third largest seafood exporter in the world six months to fix human rights abuses in its fishing industry, or face a blanket ban that could cost over $500 million in lost sales to the economic bloc.

In a move that affects an industry worth over $6 billion that stretches across two continents, the EU has warned Thailand that it must fix human rights abuses such as child slavery in its fishing industry.

Earlier this week, the EU said it would give the third largest seafood exporter in the world six months to fix human rights abuses in its fishing industry, or face a blanket ban that could cost over $500 million in lost sales to the economic bloc.

The EU noted that Thailand has overfished its waters and tolerated human rights abuses, after the United States condemned the Southeast Asian country by downgrading its human rights record.

After the downgrade, Thailand reached the level of Syria, Iran, and North Korea as a “tier 3” country in the U.S.’s annual Trafficking in Persons report.

The Bangkok Post penned an editorial largely admitting that Thailand’s fishing industry needs reform, while also suggesting Europeans should exercise restraint in judging the developing nation’s large fishing industry.

“Irresponsible and illegal fishing has dogged the Thai fishing industry for decades because governments in the past tended to ignore the problem,” the newspaper’s editors said, alluding to the previous regime led by Yingluck Shinawatra, whose brother, Thaksin, was Thailand’s controversial politician who fled Thailand when being tried for abuses of power in 2008.

However, the EU and the United States believe Thailand’s new military-led government is worse at curbing human rights abuses. The EU noted that the military junta currently in power has planned to use convicted criminals as forced labor on fishing boats, while separate reports have noted the military has blocked the domestic media from reporting on slavery in the country.

Agreeing with Thailand’s Foreign Ministry, who urged the EU to be “fair” in its assessment of the Thai fishing industry, the Post’s editors noted the problem is entrenched in Thai society and it will take time to resolve. “The EU must realize that this long-standing and protracted problem can’t be resolved overnight,” the editors said.

Thailand estimates its fishing industry is valued at about 200 billion baht, or about $6.15 billion. The total industry employs about 300,000 people in Thailand, and an estimated 90% of those are migrants, many of whom considered forced labor. According to some studies, there has been duping of migrants from Myanmar into taking out loans and working on fishing boats for little to no pay.

Other reports have suggested that regular threats of violence face Thai and migrant fishing workers. Reports of beatings have grown. In one case, a Thai fisherman claims the captain of a boat killed all fourteen of his crew, since “it was easier than paying wages,” according to Quartz’s Gwynn Guilford.

Young children, in many cases children less than eight years old, are preferred by shrimping boats for their small hands.