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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.

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.