A group of international labour, environmental and human rights organizations has sent a letter to the E.U. Commissioner for Fisheries, Maritime Affairs and Environment urging the European Commission to maintain pressure on Thailand on human rights abuses in the nation’s fishing industry.

The aim of the NGOs, among which is Human Rights at Sea, is to convince the Thai government to build upon positive reforms that have recently been made to its fishing industry, to ensure that the reforms have longevity and to address the structural problems that facilitate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and human rights abuses.

In the letter sent to Commissioner Karmenu Vella, the signatory 27 NGOs urge the Committee to consider human right abuses when assessing Thailand’s seafood sector, The Maritime Executive reported.

Likewise, they stress that to demonstrate sufficient progress, Thailand should implement a time-bound action plan focused on effective enforcement to ensure substantial, measurable progress toward a legal, sustainable and ethical seafood industry.

Read the full story at FIS >>

Read more about sea slaves >>