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This leaflet is relevant ONLY to Thailand. If you live elsewhere, check local government guidelines.

Over the last year EJF has observed improvements in PIPO inspection procedures, adoption of a risk-based approach to vessel inspections, and the proliferation of translators at PIPO centres. However, issues and concerns remain which continue to impair the MCS management system as a whole.

Thailand’s seafood industry was in recent years blighted by uncontrolled growth across its fishing sector resulting in rampant illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing as well as violent associated human rights abuses including physical and verbal abuse and even murder. The decision in 2014 by the European Commission in April 2015 to issue a ‘yellow card’ against Thailand’s seafood exports to the European Union was one of several wakeup calls to introduce long overdue reforms. Significant progress has since been made to regain trust and shed a notorious image of a sector steeped in flagrant regulatory and labour abuses, however, much more remains to be done to become a truly sustainable, legal and ethical sector.

While Thailand has been making progress in its efforts to eradicate illegal fishing and human rights abuse, issues remain. This updated briefing outlines these issues and presents recommendations to address them.

Since February 2016, EJF has observed improvements in inspection procedures, adoption of a risk-based approach to vessel inspections, and the proliferation of translators at PIPO centres. This briefing presents the issues that remain and recommendations to address them.

This report presents recommendations that are designed to address the gaps that continue to hinder Thailand’s effort to combat illegal fishing and human trafficking

EJF is encouraged by the reforms made in Thailand to date, however we have documented continuing gaps and shortcomings that are inhibiting Thailand’s fishing industry from developing into a truly ethical and sustainable sector. In order to achieve this goal - mutually shared by the RTG and EJF - there are several substantive structural steps that must now be taken to ensure the positive progress made so far can be sustained into the future.