EU to put Thailand's fishing industry on 6-month probation

[buksida]

The European Union is to give Thailand six months to drastically change its policies on illegal and unregulated fishing or face an EU seafood import ban by the end of the year.

Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press Monday the 28-nation bloc will give Thailand an ultimate warning or it could face export losses of over half a billion euros a year.

The move is to be officially announced on Tuesday.

The sources, including one EU official, spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has yet to be made. They said Thailand now has six months to come forward with a new approach to stave off the ban.

Thailand is a major seafood exporter and an EU ban would seriously affect its industry.

Source: AC

More: http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... m-fish-ban

[Spitfire]

I don't really see how it's possible for the Thai fishing industry to put it's house in order. Not going to happen in any meaningful way as I doubt anyone can turn the screw on an industry like this one here.

I suppose there might be some window-dressing effort presented in an attempt to fob-off the critics but with Thai fishing boats catching so much from outside of Thai waters now and the size of the vested interest involved (not to mention their disregard/disdain for everything)......the EU is dreaming.

[Bristolian]

^^Agrred But…..The EU has already shown the red card to Philippines, Belize, Cambodia, Guinea and Sri Lanka.
Thailand’s global fish exports are valued at approx. €7bn. Last year, €642m was exported to the EU and that is quite a sizable chunk of change to lose. If the US were to follow suit it would spell disaster for the Thai fishing industry

One of the issues facing the Thai government is that a very high percentage of the Thai fishing fleet is unregistered and therefore outside of government control. Not that that should surprise anyone!