Many arrests in Thai seafood industry crackdown, say police
Reuters
More than 100 people have been arrested in the months since a crackdown began on abuses in Thailand's multi-billion dollar seafood industry, officials say.
Last April the European Union threatened to boycott the industry unless it tackled illegal fishing and allegations of human trafficking.
On Monday, police said a taskforce set up after that investigated 36 cases and also rescued 130 trafficking victims.
Thailand is the world's third largest exporter of seafood.
Human rights groups have long highlighted abuses in Thailand's industry, saying it is reliant on illegal fishing practices, overfishing and trafficked workers from neighbouring countries who, they say, work in conditions akin to slavery.
Deputy National Police Chief Thammasak Witcharaya said that in the 16 months prior to the task force being set up only 15 cases were investigated, insisting that the crackdown had intensified.
He added that nearly all of the 102 suspects arrested were prosecuted and 36 sent to prison.
The EU's warning to Thailand, which came last April, said it would block seafood imports unless Thailand implemented a tailor-made action plan within six months. About 15% of Thailand's seafood exports are destined for the EU.
ILO
The US also has Thailand on a blacklist for failing to do enough about what it called "persistent" labour abuses in the seafood sector.
Thai authorities have consistently said they are tackling the abuses and were confident they can address international concerns.
Rights groups have said that fishermen from Cambodia and Myanmar (also known as Burma) are trafficked and forced to work on the boats, and also highlighted the use of children working in the industry. http://www.bbc.com/news
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