Abstract

In this chapter we present the case of Thailand as an example of how the EU is becoming a global core actor in problematizing and shaping the discourse around IUU fishing through bilateral dialogue and trade measures. We argue that studying the EU IUU dialogue allows us to understand how unilateral trade-based policies are adopted and integrated. The way the EU operationalises its IUU regulations reflects a concern regarding labour standards in trade policy, as part of a broader EU political agenda. EU market measures have shown impactful policy interventions in Thailand. The policy-diffusion lens reveals three emerging implications. First, the EU has applied an IUU regulation on fish stocks in order to bring exporting countries in line with EU policy for their domestic fleets. Second, the Thailand case illustrates a non-harmonized, context-driven policy diffusion of EU IUU regulation by introducing labour/human rights as an essential part of the reform. Third, the the Thai case exemplifies how policy diffusion is dependent on ‘the other’, non-EU third countries, for implementation. Finally, without including key stakeholders in development of the Thai reforms, e.g. fish workers, boat owners and processing actors, the sustainability of the reforms is in question.

Published in

Title: EU Trade-Related Measures against Illegal Fishing : Policy Diffusion and Effectiveness in Thailand and Australia
ISBN: 978-1-032-28341-8, eISBN: 978-1-003-29637-9
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

SLU Authors

• Kadfak, Alin

  • Department of Urban and Rural Development, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Fish and Aquacultural Science
Political Science (excluding Public Administration Studies and Globalization Studies)


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003296379-2

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/129599