Thai Navy Captures Vietnamese Fishing Vessel for Illegal Activity in Thai Waters

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of RTN

 

The Royal Thai Navy intercepted a Vietnamese fishing vessel illegally operating in Thai territorial waters near Koh Kra, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on 3 January. Five crew members were detained, marking the first such operation of 2025.

 

Acting on a tip-off from local sources, the Second Naval Area Command and the Maritime National Interest Protection Centre deployed HTMS Laem Sing for a patrol operation. At 05:30 the patrol identified and seized the Vietnamese vessel, which was using dredging equipment to harvest sea cucumbers. The vessel was located approximately 77 km east of Sichon District (Latitude 8°57’N, Longitude 100°38’E).

 

The detained crew and the vessel were escorted to the Songkhla Naval Base for further investigation. Charges have been filed under three Thai laws:

 

1. The Royal Ordinance on Fisheries, B.E. 2558 (2015) – Operating a stateless fishing vessel in Thai waters and engaging in commercial fishing without a licence.

 

2. The Fisheries Act, B.E. 2482 (1939) – Fishing in Thai territorial waters without authorisation.

 

3. The Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) – Unauthorised entry into the Kingdom of Thailand.

 

The arrest is part of the Thai Navy’s ongoing efforts to protect the country’s maritime resources, in line with its 2025 mission to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other maritime threats.

 

Illegal fishing activities, particularly by foreign vessels, pose a significant threat to Thailand’s marine ecosystems and economy. Vietnamese fishing vessels, often equipped with destructive dredging tools, damage seabeds and coral reefs, critical habitats for marine life. In the past year alone, an average of 15 Vietnamese vessels were apprehended annually in Thailand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Each vessel is capable of harvesting 15–20 tonnes of sea cucumbers per trip, with market values ranging from THB 300 to THB 500 per kilogram. These operations have resulted in an estimated economic impact of THB 150 million annually.

 

Vice Admiral Nares Wongtrakool, Commander of the Second Naval Area, thanked local fishing communities for providing crucial intelligence. He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding Thailand’s 113,275-square-kilometre EEZ and vowed to take decisive action against any foreign vessels encroaching on Thai waters.

 

“Our mission is to protect Thailand’s maritime resources for future generations. We will not tolerate illegal fishing activities in our waters and will continue to enforce the law to the fullest extent,” Vice Admiral Nares stated.

 

The Royal Thai Navy urges citizens to report any suspicious maritime activities to ensure the continued protection of the nation’s marine resources.

 

-- 2025-01-05

 

 

[Hawaiian]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of RTN

 

The Royal Thai Navy intercepted a Vietnamese fishing vessel illegally operating in Thai territorial waters near Koh Kra, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on 3 January. Five crew members were detained, marking the first such operation of 2025.

 

Acting on a tip-off from local sources, the Second Naval Area Command and the Maritime National Interest Protection Centre deployed HTMS Laem Sing for a patrol operation. At 05:30 the patrol identified and seized the Vietnamese vessel, which was using dredging equipment to harvest sea cucumbers. The vessel was located approximately 77 km east of Sichon District (Latitude 8°57’N, Longitude 100°38’E).

 

The detained crew and the vessel were escorted to the Songkhla Naval Base for further investigation. Charges have been filed under three Thai laws:

 

1. The Royal Ordinance on Fisheries, B.E. 2558 (2015) – Operating a stateless fishing vessel in Thai waters and engaging in commercial fishing without a licence.

 

2. The Fisheries Act, B.E. 2482 (1939) – Fishing in Thai territorial waters without authorisation.

 

3. The Immigration Act, B.E. 2522 (1979) – Unauthorised entry into the Kingdom of Thailand.

 

The arrest is part of the Thai Navy’s ongoing efforts to protect the country’s maritime resources, in line with its 2025 mission to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and other maritime threats.

 

Illegal fishing activities, particularly by foreign vessels, pose a significant threat to Thailand’s marine ecosystems and economy. Vietnamese fishing vessels, often equipped with destructive dredging tools, damage seabeds and coral reefs, critical habitats for marine life. In the past year alone, an average of 15 Vietnamese vessels were apprehended annually in Thailand’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Each vessel is capable of harvesting 15–20 tonnes of sea cucumbers per trip, with market values ranging from THB 300 to THB 500 per kilogram. These operations have resulted in an estimated economic impact of THB 150 million annually.

 

Vice Admiral Nares Wongtrakool, Commander of the Second Naval Area, thanked local fishing communities for providing crucial intelligence. He reiterated the Navy’s commitment to safeguarding Thailand’s 113,275-square-kilometre EEZ and vowed to take decisive action against any foreign vessels encroaching on Thai waters.

 

“Our mission is to protect Thailand’s maritime resources for future generations. We will not tolerate illegal fishing activities in our waters and will continue to enforce the law to the fullest extent,” Vice Admiral Nares stated.

 

The Royal Thai Navy urges citizens to report any suspicious maritime activities to ensure the continued protection of the nation’s marine resources.

 

-- 2025-01-05

 

 

These types of violations are a worldwide problem and are on the upswing as marine resources shrink.  Perhaps the biggest offender is China whose fishing fleets travel all over the globe poaching in everyone's backyard.

[watchcat]

3 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

The Royal Thai Navy urges citizens to report any suspicious maritime activities to ensure the continued protection of the nation’s marine resources.

 

As throwing plastic bags and other junk into the sea.