Prayut rejects extension of deadline on fishing rules

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IUU FISHING PROTOCOL
Prayut rejects extension of deadline on fishing rules
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- TODAY'S deadline for the strict imposition of local fishery regulations under the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing protocol enforced by the European Union will not be extended despite threats from fishing operators to launch a mass protest, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday.

He said a system for mandatory registration had been made available for fishing operators for six months now, but more than 80 per cent of the vessels still remained unregistered. "If the government extends the deadline, will the EU extend its deadline [due in August] accordingly?" the premier asked.

"If the trawlers won't go offshore, so be it, and if they break the law, prosecute them. We have let this problem continue for far too long, because previously we could not act tough against people hit by poverty. But today we follow the law unconditionally," Prayut said in Chiang Mai where he has been presiding over a mobile Cabinet meeting.

The business sector has voiced support for the government's handling of the IUU issue to guard against EU's ban on seafood imports from Thailand, and is calling on the authorities to speed up measures to meet the IUU deadline for initial appraisal scheduled in August.

Tens of thousands of trawlers based in 22 coastal provinces have vowed to dock if the government refuses to extend the deadline by two months.

Sompol Jirojmontri, head of the Trang Fishery Association, said of the 300 large fishing boats (30-60 tonnes gross) in the province, more than 100 boats had docked at some piers because they did not have logbooks or licences for fishing equipment and feared arrest. He said this suspension of operation would affect the entire fishing industry.

Operators of fishing trawlers in Ranong are also calling on the government to relax the regulation, after 300 trawlers refused to go fishing yesterday.

Thawee Bunying, president of the Ranong Fishery Association, said more than 300 commercial fishing vessels that operate in the Andaman Sea had docked on the Ranong coast after the National Fisheries Association of Thailand decided that 22 provinces would stop operations today due to the IUU regulations.

Operators 'ready to comply'

There are 20,000 operators and 53,000 trawlers, of which 33,000 vessels have registered. On April 26, the Harbour Department also ordered trawlers of more than 60 tonnes gross to install a Vessel Monitoring System within three months. The installation of the device costs Bt40,000, and those who fail to comply will face a maximum fine of Bt10,000.

Somyot Wongbunyakul, president of the Phuket Fishery Association, said operators in Phuket were willing to comply with the regulations, but the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) strictly requires operators to present all 15 important documents.

Trawler crew member Bunlert Pensuk said most operators would have key documents like logbooks and trawler registration licences, but it would take about two months for them to get the other documents ready due to lengthy state procedure and shortage of state officials.

Preecha Tantirak, chief of the Port in and Port Out controlling centre, declared that the centre had met 70-per-cent success since it opened on May 6, saying trawlers had been shown cooperation to report themselves. The centre will call a meeting today to discuss problems and solutions in implementation among concerned parties.

The Thai National Shippers' Council (TNSC) has called on the government to accelerate anti-illegal fishing processes in order to prevent a domino effect of a likely EU ban of fishing products from Thailand.

Paiboon Ponsuwanna, director and adviser to TNSC's board of directors, said the IUU fishing issue needs to be fixed and called on the government to speed up the systemisation of the fishing industry.

"As one of the leaders of the Asean Economic Community, we must care for the environment and share resources with other members," he said.

If the government failed to provide proof of tangible action to the EU by October, Thailand would possibly be given a red card, which can lead to Thai products being boycotted across the world, he added.

However, Vallop Vitanakorn, TNSC vice chairman, disagreed, saying he expected the EU to give Thailand another yellow card as it had done with South Korea previously.

"We will probably get another yellow card in October, because we will not be able to fix the IUU problem in time. South Korea had the same experience, as it took them two to three years before they could fix the problem. They managed to escape the red card and I expect the same for Thailand," he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Prayut-rejects-extension-of-deadline-on-fishing-ru-30263474.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-01

[thesetat2013]

So now thailand is a leader in the asean community

[rametindallas]

Since 80% of the boat owners squandered the six month notice that this law would be enforced, they were going to stay in port anyway rather than face a Bt.10,000 fine. This is a faux strike and if the illegal who refuse to become legal are taken out of the system, there will be more fish/profit for honest fishermen. There is still the problem of using slave labor where special offshore boats bring in the catch and resupply the slave boats that never come to port. Confiscation and burning of any illegal boat is the only thing that will really get these rogue fishermen's attention. It's what Indonesia is doing to foreign boats illegally fishing in their waters.

p.s. the RTN can use this as justification for their submarines.

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[Seastallion]

""If the trawlers won't go offshore, so be it, and if they break the law, prosecute them. We have let this problem continue for far too long, because previously we could not act tough against people hit by poverty. But today we follow the law unconditionally," Prayut said ...."

Yes. Well done. About time. Now take the same attitude with drivers that kill cops, corrupt officials, crooked cops...etc, etc.....and Thailand may indeed one day be "one of the leaders of the Asean Economic Community".

[smutcakes]

Prayuth will get a lot of credit if he carries this through, and rightly so.

[seajae]

at last we have someone saying no to these criminals. They were given 6 months to fix it but refused as profits mean more to them than the law so let them rot in port, the ones that have done the right thing and followed the law will now be able to make more profit as those that refuse to do so will no longer be taking any of the catch. As stated above, just wish they would do this with all the other criminal/corrupt/law breaking elements in thai society, would improve the country quite a bit

[Jonmarleesco]

'Sompol Jirojmontri ... said this suspension of operation would affect the entire fishing industry.' Yep. And a lot more than it will affect anyone else.

[fareastguy]

At last someone with the b@lls to stand up to these pirates !!

Dock your illegal boats & weep as the others who used the 6 months notice period wisely & registered go to sea & take the profits.

[Srikcir]

Prayuth will get a lot of credit if he carries this through, and rightly so.

Yes, Prayut should get credit for enforcing the Penal Code under Chapter 2 Section 117:

Whoever, instigates or causes a strike, lockout, or concerted cessation of trade or business with any person for the purpose of bringing about any change in the Laws of the Country, coercing the Government or intimidating the public, shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding seven years or fine not exceeding fourteen thousand Baht, or both.

Whoever, with the knowledge of the above purpose, takes part or assists in the said strike, lock-out, or concerted cessation of trade or business with any person shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding three years or fine not exceeding six thousand Baht, or both.

But you won't see Prayut taking credit for enforcing the same Penal Code under Chapter 2 Section 113:

Whoever commits an act of violence or threatens an act of violence in order to

- overthrow or change the constitution;

- overthrow the legislative power, the executive power, or the judicial power of the Constitution, or nullify such power; or

- separate the Kingdom or seize the power of the admininstration in any part of the Kingdom, is said to cimmit insurrection, and shall be punished with death or imprisonment for life.

[northernjohn]

at last we have someone saying no to these criminals. They were given 6 months to fix it but refused as profits mean more to them than the law so let them rot in port, the ones that have done the right thing and followed the law will now be able to make more profit as those that refuse to do so will no longer be taking any of the catch. As stated above, just wish they would do this with all the other criminal/corrupt/law breaking elements in thai society, would improve the country quite a bit

I wish it was that simple but the drug king pins are not going to get together and say we are going to keep all arte drugs in storage here in Chiang Rai until the government gives us two more months.

The government is handling the illegal fishing boats properly and it is my hope they never make an exception. Not exactly sure how it affects the poor. Seems to me with the governments low unemployment rate they could seek jobs in other industries. As for the ones who are unemployed now I doubt more than half of them want to work.

[DoctorB]

But this is being done under the aegis of "The fishing protocol enforced by the European Union". Why would Thailand care about that?

Membership of the EU and adherence to it's fishing policy has more or less wiped out the British fishing industry, and the formerly great fishing ports of Hull and Grimsby are but a shadow of their past.

In the UK the only affordable fish are coarse, sewage eating bottom feeders, and the likes of cod or haddock cost 3 times the price of prime steak, even in the supermarkets. The last time I bought fish at my local Tesco, the only affordable white fish available was labeled as Vienamese River fish, whatever that is.

Adherence to the absurd diktats of the EU bureaucracy will mean the end of Thailand's excellent sea food restaurants and the decimation (or worse) of its fishing fleets. Does General Happyface really want that? The best way to deal with EU is for the suppliers to get together and refuse to supply under their absurd conditions.

[rametindallas]

But this is being done under the aegis of "The fishing protocol enforced by the European Union". Why would Thailand care about that?

Membership of the EU and adherence to it's fishing policy has more or less wiped out the British fishing industry, and the formerly great fishing ports of Hull and Grimsby are but a shadow of their past.

In the UK the only affordable fish are coarse, sewage eating bottom feeders, and the likes of cod or haddock cost 3 times the price of prime steak, even in the supermarkets. The last time I bought fish at my local Tesco, the only affordable white fish available was labeled as Vienamese River fish, whatever that is.

Adherence to the absurd diktats of the EU bureaucracy will mean the end of Thailand's excellent sea food restaurants and the decimation (or worse) of its fishing fleets. Does General Happyface really want that? The best way to deal with EU is for the suppliers to get together and refuse to supply under their absurd conditions.

The seafood business was going to die out anyway because of overfishing. Spain had a tough moratorium on fishing that drove many out of business but they let the stocks recover and now have a sustainable fishing industry. The fine-weave, bottom trawling nets these Thai fishermen were using took every fish out of the inshore areas; including the type of fish that were the food source for the type of fish that humans enjoy. They turned these, so-called 'trash' fish into fish meal for animal feed.

Please educate yourself on the problem before condemning the EU actions to actually SAVE the fishing industry.

p.s. Thailand cares because it wants to keep the EU as a market for its exports and don't want to be banned/cut out of the market.

The best way to deal with EU is for the suppliers to get together and refuse to supply under their absurd conditions.

Greece tried to call the EU's bluff and lost, why would Thailand succeed where Greece failed?

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