Manya Rathore
Research expert covering India
Fisheries in Thailand - statistics & facts
Despite its success as a leading fish product exporter, the Thai fisheries industry faces a number of difficulties. The sustainability of the sector is threatened by overfishing, IUU (illegal, unreported, and unregulated) fishing, and other environmental issues. Cases of IUU fishing, human trafficking, and forced labor in Thailand led the European Union to give out a so-called yellow card in 2015, considering blocking all fishery product imports from Thailand to the EU. Since then, the sector has seen a major transition as a result of the adoption of innovative technologies and environmentally friendly techniques in aquaculture farming. Shrimp farming, in particular, which focuses on ecologically friendly and effective practices, has grown in popularity. Additionally, Thailand's efforts to stop illegal fishing and forced labor in fisheries improved international relationships. Consequently, the producer price index for fishery products in Thailand increased after plunging in 2015.
