Fishing vessels at Puket port. (Photo: Andaman)

Thailand to make bigger effort against IUU fishing, according to the EU

THAILAND
Wednesday, July 19, 2017, 02:30 (GMT + 9)

The Thai government's efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) seem to be insufficient for the European Commission (EC) to withdraw the 'yellow card' issued to that country.

According to a source from the Department of Fisheries, the EC notified the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives that Thailand should do more to curb IUU activities despite the government having spent the last three years dealing with the problem, The Bangkok Post reported.

"However, the EC has praised us for the measures we have taken, many of which have led to positive developments," the department’s spokesperson stressed.

EC representatives visited the country in July to follow up on the progress made in rooting out illicit practices from its fishing industry and raised concerns about the employment of illegal workers, the use of illicit fishing tools causing devastating damage, and the lack of a reliable monitoring system for fishing activity.

To avoid a possible ban on EU imports of processed seafood, Thailand carried out some measures, including the enforcement of new laws to crack down on violations, subjecting all trawlers to thorough checks, establishing a single command centre for combating illegal fishing, setting up a vessel monitoring system, and establishing a Port In-Port Out and tracking system.

On the other hand, representatives from the Federation of Thai Fisherfolk Association asked the government to abolish Section 34 from an amended version of the 2015 royal decree on fishing, which is deemed unfair to local fisherman and the industry, The Bangok Post informed.

Sama-Ae Jaemoodor, who chairs the federation, said the law stops fishermen from working offshore, as they have done traditionally, but lets commercial trawlers do so as they can get permits made by the chief of the Department of Fisheries.

"The government must revoke that section as it limits our right to work, restricting us to just 5 per cent of the seas," the leader said. "The fact is that traditional fishermen constitute 80 per cent of the industry."

However, Prathet Sorrak, director of the fisheries department's legal division, clarified that, in fact, certain kinds of fishing boats are not heavily restricted as the chief aim of the law is to put a limit on the kind and number of tools used by local fishermen.

In addition, he said the department will meet local fishermen by the end of July to discuss the matter in more detail.

Related articles:

- Further measures set to strengthen struggle against IUU fishing
- EU puts off deadline for Thailand to address illegal fishing

 
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