Thai fishing industry: abuses continue in unpoliced waters, Greenpeace claims
An international crackdown on human rights abuses in the Thai fishing industry has resulted in vessels travelling thousands of miles further into remote and lawless waters, where trafficked men continue to be beaten and sold at sea, a 12-month Greenpeace investigation alleges. According to the report, published on December 15, seafood caught by such vessels is largely illegal, unreported and unregulated and has entered the supply chains of multiple companies producing food for global export, including to the UK, in clear violation of international labour, supply and fishing codes. The allegations are likely to heap further pressure on Thailand’s $6.5bn seafood export industry – the fourth largest in the world, according to the most recent figures – which has suffered significantly over the past few years following allegations of human rights, labour and IUU fishing abuses both at sea and on land. Thailand was given a “yellow card” warning by the EU last year to clean up or face a ban on EU imports.
