A new study by the NGOs International Justice Mission (IJM) and Bangkok-based Issara Institute claims human trafficking and slavery remain “rampant” in Thailand’s fishing industry, reports the Bangkok Post. According to IJM, its survey of 260 fishermen from Myanmar and Cambodia showed 38% were “clearly” trafficked and another 49% were possibly trafficked. Only 13% reported fair labor conditions at sea and no exploitative recruitment. The report, published last Thursday (Sept. 21) by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, also said three-quarters of migrant laborers on Thai fishing vessels have been working in debt bondage. Field researchers surveyed the 260 fishermen in 20 Thai localities last year, collecting information on fishing jobs they had held in the previous five years. The Thai labor ministry has defended its handling of human trafficking and forced labor cases in the fisheries industry, saying allegations are no longer true after its own actions.