Thailand could lose 30b baht a year to EU fish import ban

Bangkok

THAILAND warned on Wednesday that it risked losing nearly US$1 billion a year if the European Union makes good on a threat to ban fish imports from the kingdom unless it does more to halt illegal fishing.

The world's third largest seafood producer was left red-faced on Tuesday when Brussels issued it with a "yellow card" for failing to clamp down on illegal fishing, saying fisheries monitoring, controls and punishments were inadequate and had to be brought up to international standards.