Thursday, September 26, 2013

26/09/13: Salmon escape in Canada; meeting the demand for bluefin tuna; migrant workers in Thailand's farmed shrimp industry

As many as 20,000 salmon have escaped from a Cooke Aquaculture farm in Hertimage Bay, Canada after storms currents overturned a cage.

Cod fishermen have reported catching some of the salmon and have found dead fish along the shoreline. 

Cooke Aquaculture told the Canadian broadcaster, CBA, that the fish do not pose a risk to the local environment.

The demand for bluefin tuna is on the rise putting the pressure on wild stocks. Unfortunately, attempts for farm the fish have proved difficult on a commercial scale. 

However, traders in Japan have not been put off and are keen to meet the growing consumer demand with aquaculture.

Toyo Reizo Co., an affiliate in the Mitsubishi Corp. group, has purchased tuna fry, which were artificially hatched by Kinki University.

The company plans to begin shipment of its Tuna Princess brand this month and estimates it will ship 30 tons of the tuna this fiscal year.

This film by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EFJ) explores the use of migrant workers in Thailand's farmed shrimp industry.

The country is the world's largest exporter of farmed shrimp and business is booming.

Migrant workers account for a staggering 90 percent of the shrimp workforce. However, strict immigration laws means that many of these workers are in the country illegally. 

The film investigates the treatment of these workers, many of whom are trafficked and face arduous journeys, and even armed robbery, before enduring abusive conditions in shrimp processing factories. 


English: Bluefin tuna.
English: Bluefin tuna. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)






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