Brussels, 27/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - Thailand is pulling out all the stops to ensure that the problem of illegal fishing and labour rights abuses are resolved, explained members of the Thai government on Wednesday 27 April in Brussels.
An impressive delegation of Thai government representatives agreed to meet journalists during the Seafood exhibition, where Thailand has an exhibition stand representing the country's substantial seafood production interests.
It is difficult to predict whether Thailand will receive a red card or not for failing to tackle illegal fishing sufficiently. A red card would be accompanied by trade measures in the form of a ban being imposed on the country from exporting its seafood products to Europe.
In May 2015, the Commission gave the country a yellow card and the time to reform its legislation on controlling fishing activities. Today, this country is doing everything it can to provide new punitive laws and control this phenomenon, just as it is doing so for the issue of fishing piracy.
Busaya Mathelin, the Ambassador at the Mission of Thailand to the EU, explained "We recognise the existence of serious problems in the country's fishing industry. This is a global phenomenon which ranges from illegal fish catches to abuses of labour rights, particularly in the context of a legal immigration and the trafficking of human beings". Thailand has therefore undertaken a thorough going reform of its fishing management system, explained Ms Busaya Mathelin. She believes that tangible progress has been made but that there is still a lot to do. Thailand has highlighted the fact that the subject is complex and "We need more time to resolve the problems".
Admiral Paladej Charoenpool, the Chief of the Monitoring Control System), indicated that the government was doing its best to resolve the problems identified by the Commission and provided assurances that "We are following the Commission's recommendations and suggestions and we appreciate its technical assistance". He had knowledge that the challenges were both "major and complex". The Thai delegation listed the different reforms undertaken in several different areas of legislation (such as controls at sea and in the ports, reducing fishing overcapacity, monitoring fishing vessels, and traceability of products). The new law was promulgated on 14 November 2015 and efforts have been made to ensure implementation of the new rules. Thailand has admitted the existence of a number of shortcomings (in the legal field and with regard to the training of inspectors) involving implementation, which the government is currently attempting to resolve. Fishermen also need to be taught about the new rules and benefits they would obtain in terms of fish resources, arising from the new situation, indicated Thai officials.
Thailand is modernising its fisheries product traceability system in an effort to facilitate cross checking (particularly with the use of data satellites). The aim is to develop a new electronic traceability system for locating the origins of products more quickly.
The country has also launched a reform process for tackling labour rights abuses, explained Mr Singhadet Chu-Umnart, Inspector General, Ministry of Labour.
Thailand is the third biggest exporter of fishing products in the world ($8 billion a year in exports). The Commission indicated that no decision had yet been made regarding the red card and that discussions were still continuing with the Thai authorities. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)