Human trafficking in Thailand’s shrimp industry; the state of U.S. aquaculture

Guests: Steve Trent and Michael Rubino 

Thailand is the world’s largest exporter of shrimp and the industry is essential to the Thai economy. While many parts of the shrimping business are sophisticated, it is rife with human rights abuses including slave labor and human trafficking. In this hour of Radio Times, we’ll hear from STEVE TRENT, Executive Director of the Environmental Justice Foundation, whose agency just released a report – “The Hidden Cost: Human Rights Abuses in Thailand’s Shrimp Industry” – on what’s happening and potential solutions to combat the systematic abuse. Then, America has an enormous appetite for shrimp and other seafood but we still import the majority of it.  Could a strong domestic aquaculture industry be environmentally sustainable and meet growing demand?  Marty talks with MICHAEL RUBINO, Director of Office of Aquaculture at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit