Decades of overfishing has decimated fish stocks in the region, and today the Gulf of Thailand is one of the most barren parts of the ocean. Thai captains scramble to find crew willing to travel thousands of miles off the coast to find fish. Human traffickers have started to fill the labor shortage by selling men from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, and other impoverished nations to fishing companies for as little as a few hundred dollars each. Once at sea, these captive men go months, even years, without setting foot on land, earning little to no pay.

Ghost Fleet follows a small group of activists who risk their lives to find justice and freedom for the enslaved men. Bangkok-based Patima Tungpuchayakul, a Thai abolitionist, has committed her life to help them return home. Facing illness, death threats, corruption, and apathy, Patima’s fearless determination for justice inspire her nation and the world.