Indonesia and Thailand agreed yesterday to set up a joint taskforce on illegal fishing, a lucrative cross-border trade that labor groups claim is responsible for enslaving thousands of workers from across Southeast Asia. Thai companies have been linked to shadowy fishing operations in Indonesia, a bountiful hunting ground for a black market industry that costs Jakarta an estimated 20 billion in losses every year. The administration of Indonesian President Joko Widodo has embarked on a hardline campaign against illegal fishing since taking office in October, seizing and scuttling unlicenced vessels.

Indonesia, Thailand agree to work together on illegal fishing. (2015, April 24). The Philippine Star, p. A-22.