Migrant workers sort out fishing nets on a boat in Phangnga in 2014. (Photo: Bangkok Post)Hanoi (VNA) – The European Commission (EC), an institution of theEuropean Union (EU), on January 8 delisted Thailand from the group of “warnedcountries” as recognition of its progress in tackling illegal, unreported andunregulated (IUU) fishing.
In an announcement issued the same day, European Commissioner for environment,maritime affairs and fisheries Karmenu Vella said: “Illegal, unreported andunregulated fishing damages global fish stocks but it also hurts the peopleliving from the sea, especially those already vulnerable to poverty. Fightingillegal fishing is therefore a priority for the EU. I am excited that today wehave a new committed partner in this fight”.
Thailand is the world’s third largest seafood exporters - a status thatenvironmentalists say is achieved though illegal overfishing and reliance onlow-paid trafficked workers from neighbouring countries.
In 2015, the EC imposed a “yellow card” warning on Thailand, threatening to banall seafood exports unless Bangkok tackled rampant illegal fishing and labourabuses among its fleets.
The Thai Government has struggled to revivethe country’s slumping economy and is desperate to avoid any costly sanctionson the vital sector.
The European Union is the world’s biggest importer of fisheries products. TheEC estimates the global value of illegal fishing at 10-20 billion euros (11.4billion to 22.8 billion USD) per year.-VNA
VNA
