The European Commission delisted Thailand from the group of “warned countries” as recognition of the progress it has made in tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Commission acknowledged that Thailand has successfully addressed the lacks in its fisheries legal and administrative systems. For this reason it lifts the so-called “yellow card”, in place since April 2015, a warning from the EU that the country at that time was not sufficiently tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. This decision reversed the first step of a process that could have caused a complete import ban of marine fisheries products into the EU.
[smlsubform prepend=”GET THE SAFETY4SEA IN YOUR INBOX!” showname=false emailtxt=”” emailholder=”Enter your email address” showsubmit=true submittxt=”Submit” jsthanks=false thankyou=”Thank you for subscribing to our mailing list”]
Since the yellow card was issued, the Commission and Thailand have collaborated to improve Thai fisheries governance in accordance with the international commitments of the country.
Thailand has changed its fisheries legal framework and it now meets the international law of the sea instruments. It has also reinforced compliance with its obligations as a flag, port, coastal and market State, included clear definitions in its legislation and created a regime of sanctions. What is more, it has enhanced the mechanisms of control of the national fishing fleet and its monitoring, control and surveillance systems. This regards remote monitoring of fishing activities and a scheme of inspections at port.
Additionally, the EU recognised the efforts demonstrated by Thailand to mitigate human trafficking and to improve labour conditions in the fishing sector. While not part of the bilateral dialogue on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, the Commission and the European External Action Service have addressed with Thai authorities the serious human rights abuses and forced labour in the fishing industry. In fact, Thailand has recently announced the ratification of the International Labour Organisation’s Convention No. 188 on Work in Fishing (C188), the first country in Asia to do so.
