Crackdown on illegal fishing

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IUU PRACTICES
Crackdown on illegal fishing
PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI
THE NATION



Govt might use Article 44 to put an end to IUU practices; four-point priority action plan devised

THE GOVERNMENT could resort to exercising its power under Article 44 of the interim charter to fast-track measures tackling illegal fishing practices with four priority action plans so as to avoid a potentially damaging ban on the export of Thai fishery products to the European Union.

The EU on Monday issued an official warning that it would slap the ban on Thailand if it did not take effective actions to solve the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices within the next six months.

Agriculture Minister Pitipong Phuengboon na Ayudhaya said: "We've worked hard with private enterprises to solve illegal fishing and labour problems but some measures take time. We will continue to enforce laws strictly and enact many measures to fix these problems."

Labour Minister General Surasak Karnchanarat said there would be a high-powered meeting with the agriculture minister within the next two weeks to discuss measures to address the EU's IUU warning, especially with regard to illegal labour and labour protection.

"The Labour Ministry will focus on the protection of workers in the fishery industry with emphasis on the requirement that workers must have contracts with their employers, must be at least 18 years old and must have at least 10 hours of rest per day or 77 hours of rest per week," he said.

Fishing vessels must also meet the minimum requirement on amenities on board, while the Navy and Harbour Department will be jointly responsible for inspecting vessels in and outside coastal areas of 22 provinces in the country, Surasak said.

In addition, registration of migrant workers will improve labour protection in the Thai fishery industry and the government will learn from South Korea and the Philippines, which have been successful in meeting the EU's requirements, according to the labour minister.

Agriculture Minister Pitipong said Thailand had heeded the EU's earlier warning since last October, with work almost 50 per cent done. Now the government will complete the remaining components of the action plan within the next six months so that Thai exports could avoid the EU ban.

Thailand's seafood exports to the 28-country market are worth about Bt30 billion a year.

Emergency regulation

Under the priority action plan, the minister said the government was considering enacting an emergencyregulation or regulations under Article 44 of the interim constitution within the next two weeks to empower officers to inspect fishing vessels and penalise illegal fishery enterprises or persons involved in illegal fishing.

Pitipong said that under Article 44, enforcement of fishery and related laws could be fast-tracked, whereas earlier it would take 60 days for new rules to be announced in the Royal Gazette before they became enforceable.

Under the new draft laws, the Thai government has decided on a steep increase in the fine for illegal fishing in overseas waters from Bt1 million to Bt30 million. Earlier, Thailand did not punish illegal fishing in overseas waters.

The government will also formulate the National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (NPOA-IUU) to show its seriousness in tackling illegal fishing. In addition, there will be a traceability system to inspect and examine fishery products from upstream to downstream. It will train

and educate human resources involved in the industry about legal fishing.

The government will accelerate the process of equipping every fishing boat registered in Thailand with the Vessel Monitoring System, and enact a law to punish illegal fishing in and outside the Kingdom's waters.

According to the Fishery Department, Thailand has 50,700 fishing boats. During the past year, until March 2015, the department issued fishing certificates to 12,455 boats. Of these, 4,243 fishing boats were certified from January to March this year.

To control and monitor any illegal fishing activity, the Fishery Department has also set up 18 Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) units in the central office and regions. The government has also established 26 port-in-port-out units to control and inspect fishing boats at Thailand's ports.

Thai Ambassador to Belgium Noppadon Gunavibool said the fishery industry needed to adjust and develop standards to meet the EU's requirements.

He added that consumer confidence would be hurt because many buyers were increasingly concerned about the environment, labour and human rights.

Chanintr Chalisarapong, president of the Thai Tuna Industry Association, said that taking into account the many measures launched by the Thai government in cooperation with private enterprises, Thailand's fishery industry and exports should not be banned by the EU in the next six months.

The EU is one of the major export markets for tuna shipment, accounting for about 10 per cent of total shipments, valued at Bt12 billion a year.

Finance Minister Sommai Phasee warned of a huge impact on the fishery industry if the EU decided to impose a ban on Thai fishery products. However, he does not expect the EU to go ahead with full sanctions.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/politics/Crackdown-on-illegal-fishing-30258555.html


-- The Nation 2015-04-23

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

50,700 fishing boats makes 22,7 boats per square km of Thai territorial waters !!! Understand why they fish illegally in other countries waters.

[noitom]

The Thais are all talk. A THai crackdown is a joke.

[Robby nz]

As if Thailand was the only country involved in illegal fishing, NZ has been chasing illegal Japanese toothfishing boats in southern waters for years.

And no other SE Asian countries involved ?

But Thailand is now the easy target to be picked on.

The practice of illegal fishing should be stopped but to single out one country while ignoring others will do nothing to solve the problem for should Thai boats exit the fishery others from other countries will soon fill the gap.

[quandow]

Why don't they just do what they always do - lie? Type up some damned report saying "It's all good, nothing to see here, now just move along."

[LuckyLew]

The Thais are all talk. A THai crackdown is a joke.

Are you not aware that Thailand is the hub of crackdowns

It will be very hard to change habits in an industry that has been run this way since the beginniing of time, it will mean cutting into profits and this is will be a hard sell to people make the money.

IMO the only way this improves is if the ban is put in place by the EU and they enforce it

[robblok]

As if Thailand was the only country involved in illegal fishing, NZ has been chasing illegal Japanese toothfishing boats in southern waters for years.

And no other SE Asian countries involved ?

But Thailand is now the easy target to be picked on.

The practice of illegal fishing should be stopped but to single out one country while ignoring others will do nothing to solve the problem for should Thai boats exit the fishery others from other countries will soon fill the gap.

Not really Robby.. in this case other countries like the Philipines and Korea were picked on first (as you call it) They changed and are now of the list Thailand can do the same.

I see this as a good thing, if the Thais do put in GPS.. maybe they could finally stop fishing in their nature reserves.

[Boatfreak]

50,700 fishing boats makes 22,7 boats per square km of Thai territorial waters !!! Understand why they fish illegally in other countries waters.

Easy to track by AIS, out of territorial waters FINE, AIS off: FINE and remember everybody can check the AIS traffic on sites such as https://www.marinetraffic.com/ Don't look for problems look for solutions.

[manhood]

The big problem of Thailand is that they ignored western standards since ages!!!!!!!!!!

and kept on going and not care about anything could go wrong after years ignoring the standards of the fishing industry!

And any kind of wrongdoing was never getting into any harmfull punishment by legal action against the wrongdoers....maybe a litte fine paid out of the pocket easy and some pribes and all was fine!

Now faceing the harsher actions agains Thailand, either fishing industry or aviation industry is something new but the ONLY way this country learn their lessons!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So keep on going Europe to get strict on the observance!

And sure not only for Thailand!

[Laughing Gravy]

What a reactionary response. Nothing less than I expected. At least there is admittance (Thai style) that there is a problem. Better than a few months ago as this didn't happen. What a turn around. Probably the realisation that the country would be severely hit if the EU stopped buying seafood. It will be interesting to see what happens. Can't wait to hear from all those on here who defend anything that is against Thailand, to try and justify themselves, about this.

[notmyself]

Nothing to do with Thailand as a nation... EU v CP.

[NeilSA1]

Yet another major crisis that this government has inherited and has to resolve. What an unenviable task.

[Nobb]

Losing two Billion a year and the best you can do is 6 months! They call this Thai time!

[No Apologist]

Even though the issue isn't his fault - but inherited - with the general's style, he's NEVER going to be able to handle this problem, internationally. The man can't get through a press-conference without blowing it. He calls that 'Thainess', but the EU isn't going to have much patience for that. To be sure, I wouldn't know how to fix it, either. But, after watching him all year, I feel I know he's going to throw a huge tantrum, when they pressure him. I think this is gonna' be a doorway, more than a singular issue.

At this moment, they're focused on the fishing industry. But...this came up, originally, because journalists had uncovered a slavery ring, IN the fishing industry. Forget about the US, this is the EU now, and they're more principled. And, his public reaction - to a group of EU journalists 2 months ago - was a PR disaster. He tried to intimidate that female, European journalist, and made his (now infamous) remarks about having them all executed. HUGE mistake on his part.

So, it's like: Ok, whateveryournameis....'military man who staged a coup, ended elections and imposed martial law for the last year, ended civil rights and threatens to kill Thai and EU journalists...let's talk about your fishing industry.'

He's not going to be able to handle it. 'Hello, Russia and China? How soon can you get here?'

Edited April 23, 2015 by No Apologist

[Laughing Gravy]

Nothing to do with Thailand as a nation... EU v CP.

CP is a company in Thailand. A very important one at that. They should follow the rules of the government and the government should police and ensure they are followed. It has everything to do with Thailand. Please try and not pass the blame. The buck stops with the government. Plain and simple.

[MZurf]

50,700 fishing boats makes 22,7 boats per square km of Thai territorial waters !!! Understand why they fish illegally in other countries waters.

Easy to track by AIS, out of territorial waters FINE, AIS off: FINE and remember everybody can check the AIS traffic on sites such as https://www.marinetraffic.com/ Don't look for problems look for solutions.

Solutions exist that could solve many of the country's problems. It's enforcing the rules that seems to elude them completely.