THE IMPACT ON THE IMPLEMENTATIONS OF ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED, AND UNREGULATED (IUU) FISHING REGULATIONS: A CASE STUDY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (EU) YELLOW CARD IN THAILAND (2015 – 2019)

Abstract

The issue with Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) has been a concern to international communities for the past few decades. The European Union (EU), one of the largest regional organizations, has actively fought against IUU fishing to show their commitments to create a better ocean governance. Through The Council Regulation (EC) No 1005/2008, also known as the EU IUU fishing regulation, the EU regulates the procedures of seafood entry to the EU market. In April 2015, the European Commission officially issued a yellow card warning to Thailand due to the possibilities of engaging with IUU fishing activities. This study seeks to answer how the EU yellow card affect the Thai government’s effort in tackling the IUU issue in Thailand. For this reason, this study aims to analyse the impact of the EU yellow card on the efforts of the Thai government against the practice of IUU fishing during 2015 – 2019. The research will conducted as a qualitative research using descriptive case study, specifically content analysis. The researcher will narrates the phenomenon of the EU IUU fishing regulations, its carding process, and the background of the Thai fishing industry. International Regimes Theory is here to explain that institutions can shape the behaviour of a state who engages with it. The Theory of Compliance with International law is used to explain that states realize there are still consequences following their violation with international agreements. As a result, Thailand’s compliance with IUU fishing regulation is driven by direct and reputational sanctions as they will receive them if they do not take actions to tackle the IUU fishing issue in their country.