Jacob Maslow Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 The Thai government is launching new fishing trawler regulations, which are set to start on May 6. The new port-in, port-out system will affect 22 coastal provinces and help the government tackle illegal fishing and human trafficking in the fisheries industry. Unreported and Unregulated (a.k.a. IUU) fishing has become a problem for Thailand, but the government is taking steps to resolve the problem. The new regulations have already been put into place in the Ranong, Phuket, Songkhla and Chumphon province since April 1 as part of an experimental phase. The Department of Fisheries is reviewing the implementation of the experimental phase to improve the system before the launch in May. The new system will require any fishing trawlers that are carrying 30 tonnage of gross weight to report themselves before heading out to sea and after they return. During the system’s experimental phase, 223 port-outs were reported and 143 port-ins were reported. Officials are looking to raise awareness of the system among all of the country’s 297 fishing piers. Some operators are recommending more control centers and to make the inspection procedures easier. Currently, there are numerous documents that need to be checked during the inspection process. Conflicting advice among officials is another concern that the Department is looking to correct. Enforcement of the new laws will not be as strict in the beginning, so operators have some time to adjust to the new system. More laws may be introduced in the future to further tackle IUU problems. -- 2015-04-23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiSoLowSoNoSo Posted April 23, 2015 Share Posted April 23, 2015 So exactly what are they reporting? That they have fished inside maritime parks, fished with nets that caught even the smallest fry, that they have been throwing garbage overboard, or that they changed the engine oil at sea and disposed the old oil overboard or that the crew used illegal drugs like Yaba and heroin? This is in my opinion is just "Big smoke and no fire" or Thainess at it's finest hour. What about controls out at sea like most other countries with fishing fleets do, or are the Coastguard and marine police to lazy to do this? (Probably don't want to spend money on fuel to go out and check them while fishing) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chainarong Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 <script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script> So exactly what are they reporting? That they have fished inside maritime parks, fished with nets that caught even the smallest fry, that they have been throwing garbage overboard, or that they changed the engine oil at sea and disposed the old oil overboard or that the crew used illegal drugs like Yaba and heroin? This is in my opinion is just "Big smoke and no fire" or Thainess at it's finest hour. What about controls out at sea like most other countries with fishing fleets do, or are the Coastguard and marine police to lazy to do this? (Probably don't want to spend money on fuel to go out and check them while fishing) Port in - port out, my that will improve the reputation with the EU and Un , when are Thailand going to tackle the difficult problems, even I can do the Port in - Port out crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chao Lao Beach Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 But you can still Pout out with slaves eh ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyscot Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Can't really comment on the slavery issues, but from my experience it's relatively easy to police the equipment used for fishing, this can be done mainly in port by inspections although some offshore patrols would help the cause Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooka Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 223 went out and only 143 came back. What happened to the other 80? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadman Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 223 went out and only 143 came back. What happened to the other 80? Heading to Africa for cargo to Europe? Seriously they are trawlers of 30 tonnage plus and the trial only started April 1st so defines they are where they should be to make a profit - out at sea fishing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Expat1 Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 It is a start however, in fairness it is not the first time nor very effective. The naivete of most people about the sea in general just makes this issue more difficult to grasp and to handle. Unless one has actually worked out on the blue water one fails to grasp the enormity of the thing. It is a REALLY big ocean out there. Transferring cargo ship to ship, stealing whole ships is normal in Asian waters hell, 200 ships a year go missing of which 10% of these are over 100,000 tonnes in size. One can go a week without seeing another vessel. Archipelagos like Indonesia are virtually impossible to police as even the mighty American Seventh Fleet had admitted that years ago when they were having problems in the Straits and further south in the 80's. The Americans have the largest and finest fleet in the world with satellite assist and they could not do what they wanted how then a local Marine Police. This is a serious and complex problem that can only be handled by seriously throttling the funds and freedom of the vessel owners and fish processors. Do that and one might stand a chance, do not, then... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyscot Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Agree with you to a point expat, this is why I suggested policing from port, nothing's easy but a good start would be tightening the type of fishing gear used, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suffinator Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 Enforcement of the new laws will not be as strict in the beginning, so operators have some time to adjust to the new system. More laws may be introduced in the future to further tackle IUU problems. And there you have the punchline ... make news laws in an attempt to avert and EU import ban but don't bother about enforcement. It appears once again that there are those who refuse to give up those brown envelops. The questions begs to be asked ... 1. will the 'adjustment period' be extended indefinitely if they can't adjust? 2. who is going to enforce the laws? Would these be the same corrupt official now controlling the ports? If this is Prayut's attempt to appease the EU I think he's going to have a hard time selling it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Usual Suspect Posted April 24, 2015 Share Posted April 24, 2015 To make this 'Port-in..Port-out' system work, as mentioned earlier...they need non corrupt port officials..or nothing changes. As mentioned earlier here...they need patrol boats out there (with non corrupt crewmen)..or nothing changes. If indeed there's no patrol vessels out there what's to stop 1 trawler offloading it's 'non registered' slaves onto another ship offshore while it goes in to port, then rendevous again after it's 'port-out' & away they all go...system over-ride! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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