EJF, SeaWeb Europe and WWF-France released a detailed joint “Advisory Note” in collaboration with Carrefour to inform French industry, retailers and brands of the risks associated with illegal fishing

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) and WWF are working together to support the harmonised and effective implementation of the European Union’s Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008 establishing a Community system to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is a major threat to livelihoods, food security and ocean health globally.

As the world’s largest import market for fish products, the European Union plays a pivotal role in reforming the global trade in fisheries products. This analysis charts the progress of the EU’s efforts to shut out illegal catch and end IUU fishing.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), Oceana, The Pew Charitable Trusts and WWF are working together to secure the harmonised and effective implementation of the EU Regulation to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Slavery, ‘pirate’ fishing and other serious crimes continue to plague Thailand’s seafood sector.

EJF believes that solutions to 'pirate' fishing and slavery in Thailand’s fishing sector are available, practical and achievable through a multi-track approach emphasising leadership, coordinated joint action and genuine commitment from all stakeholders. This report recalls and builds on the recommendations made in EJF’s 2015 report Pirates and Slaves. EJF also acknowledges and reiterates all recommendations made to Thailand in the 2015 US Department of State Trafficking in Persons report.

The report calls for overfishing, pirate fishing and modern-day slavery in the Thai fishing industry to be addressed as interconnected issues. It examines the complex and multi-faceted problems in Thailand’s fisheries sector and offers recommendations by which the Thai Government and producers, buyers, retailers and consumers of Thai seafood can tackle the root causes of the widespread environmental devastation and human rights abuses in the industry, and collectively secure truly sustainable, well-managed fisheries.

Effective fisheries management in Thailand could help combat pirate fishing, halt biodiversity loss, enable ecosystems and fish stocks to recover, and bring an end to human trafficking and devastating human rights abuses.

EJF’s review of the Thai Government’s actions in the last year concludes that the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking have not been met, and EJF strongly recommends that Thailand remains on Tier 3 in the 2015 TIP Report, as a clear signal to the Thai Government that a substantive programme of actions and series of reforms must be implemented.

The report outlines an approach to prevent IUU fishery products from entering UK supply chains. It offers expert advice on risk assessment and risk mitigation, and encourages action to prevent IUU fishery products entering UK supply chains, which is costly on a number of levels.

Designing and implementing an effective IUU fishing due diligence process provides an opportunity for UK retailers and brands to support the global fight against IUU fishing, and help secure the future viability and health of global fisheries, while also reducing potential reputational and legal risks in seafood supply chains.

The report reveals new evidence of human trafficking and the use of violence in the Thai fishing industry and inaction on the part of the Government to identify and prosecute criminals, corrupt officials and unscrupulous business operators, or to enforce measures to regulate fishing fleets and recruitment practices.

The report and film detail testimonies of the 14 men rescued from a port in Kantang - first reported in Sold to the Sea - one year since their rescue. They also document the story of a 21 year old individual from Myanmar who was trafficked and forced to work on a Thai fishing boat in March 2013, before eventually escaping in December after 10 months of unpaid work aboard the boat.

Featuring testimonies recorded during investigations in 2012, Impossibly Cheap: Abuse and Injustice in Bangladesh’s Shrimp Industry documents examples of hazardous working conditions, the use of child labour, bonded labour, withholding of pay, excessively low wages, health and safety violations, restricted union activities, verbal abuse and excessive hours.

Impossibly Cheap: Abuse and Injustice in Bangladesh’s Shrimp Industry follows EJF's The Hidden Cost report, published in September 2013, which documents accounts of human trafficking into the Thai shrimp industry, confiscation of identification documents, withholding of pay, forced detention and bonded labour.

The report exposes the reliance of Thailand’s shrimp industry on migrant workers, many of whom are trafficked and face arduous journeys, and even armed robbery, before enduring abusive conditions in shrimp processing factories. During investigations carried out in October 2012 and March 2013, EJF gathered evidence of perilous human trafficking into Thailand, as well as serious labour and human rights violations in shrimp facilities.

The Hidden Cost: Human Rights Abuses in Thailand’s Shrimp Industry follows EJF’s Sold to the Sea report, published in May this year, which revealed evidence of human trafficking, labour abuse and the routine use of violence, including murder, in the Thai fishing industry.

Bringing fishing vessels out of the Shadows draws heavily on EJF’s work towards the eradication of Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing in West Africa, which has revealed a compelling need for an international database of industrial fishing vessels containing their UVI and information on their ownership, flag, history, characteristics and fishing authorisations.

As explained by this briefing, EJF has documented vessels using multiple identities and changing their flags, names and radio call-signs to avoid detection and sanctions. A Global Record, alongside the obligatory use of a unique vessel identifier (UVI) in the form of an IMO number would drive transparency and traceability in global fisheries, thereby facilitating improved fisheries management and further action against IUU fishing.

EJF is calling on the EU to demonstrate strong political leadership to support the establishment of a Global record of fishing vessels, as part of its wider strategy to combat IUU fishing.

This innovative legal tool has placed the EU at the forefront of efforts to address pirate fishing. Whilst it has the potential to leave a positive legacy in the fight against IUU fishing, evidence demonstrates that a lack of coordination and uniformity in its implementation risks compromising its intended objectives.

Diversions of fish consignments to Member State ports with poorer controls than those of their neighbours and a growing trend in containerisation of fish suggest a need for more consistent implementation efforts and increased trade flow scrutiny. The absence of any vessels in the IUU Vessel Community List identified independently by Member States or by the European Commission is also concerning.