Some Burmese migrants have been found to suffer exploitation and abuse whilst working on Thai fishing vessels. Photo: Jim Wickens/Ecostorm

EFU Film Grinding Nemo: what's the real cost of your prawn curry?

20th September, 2012

The Ecologist

The tropical shrimp industry in Thailand exploits both people and the environment, a major new film by the Ecologist Film Unit, Link TV and Swedwatch reveals

Our investigation highlights how so-called 'trash fish' is caught by Thai trawlers operating - sometimes illegally - in foreign waters before being ground into fishmeal for use in farmed prawn - or shrimp - feed. As fishing stocks are depleted, local fishermen are negatively affected.

Thai trawler operators often hire Burmese migrant workers who sometimes suffer brutal exploitation and abuse whilst at sea for lengthy periods. The Thai prawn industry is the largest of its kind in the world and supplies prawns to European consumers.

More from the investigation:

Slavery behind our seafood Read Jim Wicken's special report on the exploitation of Burmese migrants working on Thai fishing trawlers

Blood Fish Read Andrew Wasley's report on why we should blacklist tropical shrimp from our shopping baskets

Useful Links:

Link TV

Swedwatch

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