Food industries feel the repercussion as Thai fishing vessels stat put on shores

[webfact]

Food industries feel the repercussion as fishing vessels stat put on shores



BANGKOK: -- As the majority of operators of fishing vessels in all coastal provinces refuse to go out fishing in the sea to avoid tough law enforcement by authorities today, repercussions of the stoppage is causing a chain reaction to trickle down into the entire fisheries industry with many operators contemplating temporary closures.

Samut Sakhon province will be one that will be hard hit by the stoppage as not only it has the largest work force of foreign workers in the fishing industry, but also food related industries not only for local consumption but for exports.

According to local authorities, one to be hard hit is the fish filleting industry which is the leading link in the fisheries industry chain.

The main factor affecting their business is the fact that they depend entirely upon fresh fish supplies to operate as they do not possess storing facilities.

Fresh fish is a prerequisite for such industries and without a fresh supply of fish they are unable to cater to consumer demands.

One small business owner relates that on average he buys in excess of 1,000 kg of fresh fish every day which is de-scaled, skinned and filleted so that the meat can then be turned into fish-balls and fishcakes.

As a result of the stoppage, supplies of fresh fish has dwindled.

He stated that there is a strong possibility that he will have to lay off his workforce which amounts to between 30 – 40 workers, most of them migrant workers, as he would not be able to shoulder the 400,000 – 500,000 baht monthly expenditure burden.

“Of course we are affected. We have expenditures and financial responsibilities that we must meet every month. And all these are dependent upon the fish supplies! When fishermen stop fishing we can do nothing but bear it and accept the consequence,” he said.

The same can also be said for canned sardine exporting factories large and small which total more than 15 in the Samut Sakhon area.

These factories depend solely on fish caught in the Gulf of Thailand as raw material and the strike has already imposed difficulties on their production schedule.

The Anusorn Mahachai Group specializing is surimi (ground fish meat) and canned sardines for export on a regularly basis, requires more than 100 tons of fresh fish everyday but has been forced to halt the surimi production line for three days now.

Surimi production requires 100% freshly caught fish which is processed and exported. As for the canned sardines production line, stocks of fresh fish that had been stored are rapidly dwindling. All these factors have forced them to announce a halt in production from July 4 onward until the situation improves.

Anusorn Mahachai Group chief of executive Mr Aphisit Thecha-nittisawas admitted the effects would need be felt throughout the entire supply chain.

He said, “Fresh markets have no fish to sell and fishermen have stopped fishing. As a result fishing vessel supplies such as fuel, fishing equipment providers are also affected. Ice factories and ground fish factories also have to stop! The entire fisheries industry has ground to a stop because we don’t have the raw materials we need.”

Meanwhile the Thai Frozen foods Association warned that the fishing stoppage will adversely affect factories and consumers as a whole.

But it stated that supply shortage in the fish processing sector has been going on for more than 3 years and many factories have had to resort to purchasing seafood supplies from other countries such as Indonesia.

With regards to fishing vessels that have failed to correctly register within the government deadline, the association stated that there are numerous small fishing vessels operators that have taken part because they do not know any better and have gone along with the crowd.

One association member said everyone in the seafood processing sector agrees that Thailand’s fishing vessels must all register in accordance with international standards and they must do so within September which is only 2 months away.

Should this not be completed by October then Thailand will suffer even more as our seafood products will then be red-flagged which will mean that we can no longer export to other countries , he said.

[Just1Voice]

Som nom na. They have had YEARS to clean up this mess, but just sat on their asses doing nothing. Serves them right.

[Anthony5]

Right, better close down business than doing business by the rules.

TIT at its best

[trogers]

Time to open the country to imports and fair competition. This the only way to force local businesses to grow up, or else they would still be clinging to mommy's skirt.

[toybits]

If their intention was to squeeze a little compassion from me for the fishing industry, they got it ALL WRONG! They took advantage of the slavery that occurred on those fishing boats. They should have been the first to DEMAND that fish caught using slave labor will NOT be WELCOME in their factories. But NOOOOOO! They kept their traps shut and for that - You deserve what you are experience now!!! Take that!!!

[Rogergreybeard]

All of the above

[Thai at Heart]

Rather than attempting to comply, let's just down tools. How incredibly stupid. They may as well start closing up shop if they can't even start to try to comply.

Idiots.

[webfact]

Crackdown on IUU fishing affects restaurants & markets

SATUN, 1 July 2015 (NNT) – Food outlets in the South are beginning complain about a shortage of supplies, after authorities began a thorough inspection of fishing boats as part of the crackdown on illegal fishing.

Trawlers have anchored their boats in response to the government’s inspection for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The tough crackdown and action kick off today.

Local restaurants and fresh markets have complained that they were bearing the brunt of the IUU clampdown. Food retailers claimed they had to shift to non-seafood cuisine, and nearly all fresh seafood stalls were also facing supply shortages.

One of seafood vendors disclosed that he might have to stop selling seafood for awhile until the situation returns to normal, or change to a new profession.


-- NNT 2015-07-01

[cooked]

For goodness sake they couldn't even get rid of the jet skis.. This will probably go the same way.

[fareastguy]

Quote:
One association member said everyone in the seafood processing sector agrees that Thailand’s fishing vessels must all register in accordance with international standards and they must do so within September which is only 2 months away.
Should this not be completed by October then Thailand will suffer even more as our seafood products will then be red-flagged which will mean that we can no longer export to other countries , he said.

Holding the international world to ransom & Thainess has backfired and will only hit themselves in the arse pocket !!

Welcome to the real world, shape-up or ship-out !!

[Oziex1]

Rather than attempting to comply, let's just down tools. How incredibly stupid. They may as well start closing up shop if they can't even start to try to comply.

Idiots.

Mob mentality, that unfortunately often works in Thailand.

[webfact]

Police to keep eye on fishermen’s movement calling for leniency in fishing license

BANGKOK, 1 July 2015 (NNT) – Police Chief has instructed a close watch on potential movement by groups of fishermen in the wake of a government announcement to strictly enforce the law on fishing license.

The Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police Pol Gen Somyot Pumpunmuang has said fishermen groups have the rights to make a move to call for an extension of the imposition of the law related to the fishing vessels’ license, but their movement or gathering must be done within the scope of the law.

He said that the police in provinces where fisheries are the vital part of their economy have been instructed to take pre-emptive measures against any outbreak of violence. He also asked people who wish to join the protest to think about the nation’s benefit.

He opined that he believed this government was in the right direction in tightening laws on illegal fishing in order to gain acceptance from the international community. He stressed the government has already given sufficient time to owners of illegal vessels to register and address their problems.

The Police Commissioner-General also mentioned movements by politically motivated groups, saying the police were gathering related pieces of intelligence, especially those on online social media. He called on those who wish to hold a protest rally to obey the law and orders by the National Council for Peace and Order.


-- NNT 2015-07-01

[wabothai]

yeah, a piece of your own cake !!

[NeverSure]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

[geriatrickid]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

The oceans may be huge, but thanks to the irresponsible fishing practices of countries like Thailand, China, Russia and many others, the oceans have been over fished. The EU is not clean on this issue either. If had not been for US and Canadian actions the greedy fishing fleets of Spain and Portugal would have stripped the Grand Banks clean. As it, is the Chinese and Russian fishing vessels devastate the international section with there bottom dredging and take all strategy.

Thailand's fishing vessels will still be having fun in the Indian Ocean and off the coasts of Africa taking fish away from countries where the fish is needed. Never a mention about this in Thailand.

[Thai at Heart]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

In Tesco the other day, I checked the canned sardines. 80% supplied from Thailand. People have no idea where this stuff is coming from.

I sincerely hope the EU sticks to their guns. When 90% of the fleer has no paperwork, this is an utter disgrace.

[Mudcrab]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

In Tesco the other day, I checked the canned sardines. 80% supplied from Thailand. People have no idea where this stuff is coming from.

I sincerely hope the EU sticks to their guns. When 90% of the fleer has no paperwork, this is an utter disgrace.

Many products in Tesco Lotus sold in Surin are supplied from Thailand - what is so unusual about that?

[Thai at Heart]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

In Tesco the other day, I checked the canned sardines. 80% supplied from Thailand. People have no idea where this stuff is coming from.

I sincerely hope the EU sticks to their guns. When 90% of the fleer has no paperwork, this is an utter disgrace.

Many products in Tesco Lotus sold in Surin are supplied from Thailand - what is so unusual about that?

Tesco uk

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

I hope all those companies who have used illegal underpaid labour for years and got their fish from vessels crewed with slave labour go broke, som nam na.

[englishoak]

I dont think ive EVER heard a country whine and bleat and plead and BS so much for something they have been caught doing WRONG and ILLEGAL, and warmed numerous times and done zip... hope it lasts long enough to put half of the below spawning age catching, slave trading mostly false licence scumbag fishing fleet.

Edited July 1, 2015 by englishoak

[webfact]

Fisheries operators warn strict measures will sink the industry
Pratch Rujivanarom,
Petchanet Pratruangkrai
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE FISHERIES sector warned that overly strict fishery regulations being implemented under the "illegal, unreported and unregulated" (IUU) fishing protocol will result in the collapse of Thai fishery and related industries, which will affect Thai people's access to seafood.

According to Thailand Fishery Association vice president Monkol Sukcharenkana, up to 90 per cent of the fishing boats cannot fish legally because they do not have all the required documents without which they will face a Bt100,000 fine or imprisonment for up to one year. Fishery business owners across the country also warned that Thai consumers would have to cope with more expensive seafood products.

Songkhla Fishery Association president Praporn Eak-uru said that up to 90 per cent of the province's trawlers could not go fishing because the equipment specified in the licence was different from the equipment they actually use. "By July 4, up to 1,000 trawlers in the province will halt their operations and all the related industries will come to a standstill as well," Praporn said.

Monkol also said trawler owners could endure for only a week or two without fishing. After that they will have to close their businesses, as they won't have money to pay employees and meet other expenses.

He said the halt in fishing activity would result in losses of more than Bt100,000 per day for all the operators and if the fishing industry collapses, the related businesses - from the big seafood processing industry to small local fish sellers - would be severely affected too.

"We normally sell 70 per cent of our product in the domestic market, while 25 per cent goes to other Asian countries and only 5 per cent is exported to the European Union. Therefore, Thai consumers will be affected directly if the fishing industry collapses," he warned.

"I asked for two more months for the fishing-vessel owners to prepare the documents and get things in the right position. The loss of the European market, if we get a red card on IUU, is acceptable compared with the damage of 70 per cent in the domestic market," he added.

Kiititat Siriluckananan, owner if the Pon-anan fishing pier in Samut Sakhon, said that because of the shortage of fish, seafood prices would definitely rise. He suggested that the authorities ease up by implementing the regulations step by step.

The situation at the fishing piers in Nakhon Si Thammarat and Pattani yesterday was also reportedly stagnant as fewer boats unloaded their catches.

Admiral Kraisorn Chansuwanitch, the Navy commander and the director of the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF), said the centre had tried its best to compromise with the fishing-vessel owners but the deadline of the clement period had ended, so it had to enforce the regulations equally for all fishing vessels.

"If the fishing vessels stop their operations, I think it is fine, if they are not ready. If we compromise with them, more than 20,000 legal fishing vessels will be affected," Kraisorn said. He said this was the responsibility of the trawler owners and the CCCIF had no duty to adjust the regulations to suit them.

"Everyone has to follow the law and we are working like the police to enforce the law," he added. In response to the fishery problem, the Commerce Ministry will this week call for a meeting with seafood manufacturers and exporters to estimate the impact from the fishing shutdown.

Commerce Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya said the meeting would brainstorm ideas to tackle the problem and estimate losses.

The ministry foresees the price of seafood in the domestic market being driven up. It will closely monitor price movements and prevent unfair increases, it says.

According to the ministry, export of seafood - including frozen and processed products - dropped 13.3 per cent year on year in the first five months of 2015 to US$2.18 billion (Bt73.7 billion). Seafood products accounted for 7.8 per cent of the country's total export value.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fisheries-operators-warn-strict-measures-will-sink-30263561.html


-- The Nation 2015-07-02

[Chang_paarp]

Gee the poor fishing industry will collapse if they are made to follow long standing regulations and actually obey the law. Poor little souls, maybe the junta and police should look at this lot for bringing Thailand into disrepute.

[Jay Sata]

According to Thailand Fishery Association vice president Monkol Sukcharenkana, up to 90 per cent of the fishing boats cannot fish legally because they do not have all the required documents without which they will face a Bt100,000 fine or imprisonment for up to one year. Fishery business owners across the country also warned that Thai consumers would have to cope with more expensive seafood products.

Songkhla Fishery Association president Praporn Eak-uru said that up to 90 per cent of the province's trawlers could not go fishing because the equipment specified in the licence was different from the equipment they actually use. "By July 4, up to 1,000 trawlers in the province will halt their operations and all the related industries will come to a standstill as well,"

In other words we have been pirate fishing vessels for,a long time and prices will go up because we don't want to comply with the law..

Sad fact of life...the world is watching and you will have to comply or sell up.

The junta are faced with clesring up years of mess in the aviation,trafficking and fishing business.

Not nice or easy.

Edited July 1, 2015 by Jay Sata

[NeverSure]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

The oceans may be huge, but thanks to the irresponsible fishing practices of countries like Thailand, China, Russia and many others, the oceans have been over fished. The EU is not clean on this issue either. If had not been for US and Canadian actions the greedy fishing fleets of Spain and Portugal would have stripped the Grand Banks clean. As it, is the Chinese and Russian fishing vessels devastate the international section with there bottom dredging and take all strategy.

Thailand's fishing vessels will still be having fun in the Indian Ocean and off the coasts of Africa taking fish away from countries where the fish is needed. Never a mention about this in Thailand.

I think you misunderstood me. I meant "who other than Thailand cares if Thailand stops fishing". I don't. Thailand is selfish and abusive in its fishing. I don't care if Thailand can't fish or if the people who've devastated human rights and fisheries go broke. Against all hope maybe the'll learn a lesson.

I don't know about W. Europe but Canada and the US tightly regulate fishing and if the populations in rivers, lakes or streams is below normal fishing stops. Pollution isn't allowed either. Working on a fishing boat is highly lucrative and it is a job chosen by a lot of guys to get a start in life. I had friends who got jobs on fishing trawlers, worked their butts off for a while and made enough money to pay for their college.

Sorry but I have no sympathy for the Thai fishing industry.

Cheers

[quandow]

"Fisheries operators warn strict measures will sink the industry"

It won't sink it, it will legitimize it! Sure, it will cost more, but you pass those costs on to the consumer, and everyone's happy. This is called a sustainable business model. Get with the 21st century!

Studies were done about U.S. migrant workers. If they were paid a living wage, the rise in the cost of produce would be less than $.03 per pound. Same here, dummies . . .

[jerojero]

So.... I cannot fish using foreign slave labour any more, so as fishing fleet owner I'm going on strike and parking my boats. Pathetic billionaires crying the blues. Take a hike!

[alfalfa19]

Tough beans. Although I am a cheap bastard, and not given to political correctness, I stopped buying any seafood originating in thailand long ago, after learning of the abuses which are commonplace in the Thai fishing industry. It won't kill me to pay a few dollars more for a bag of frozen shrimps.

[kennw]

If complying with the law will make the business non-viable then the business IS non-viable

[masuk]

Who cares? Thailand is tiny, harvesting about 1/10 the fish that China does and less than several other Asian countries. Link The oceans are huge and the western world can well live without fish caught with slaves. As the people of the West become more aware of what's happening they will close their wallets. Thailand has so many things that are destroying any good image it might have had.

Human trafficking and bar girls and corruption and illegal coups and a d word and...

The oceans may be huge, but thanks to the irresponsible fishing practices of countries like Thailand, China, Russia and many others, the oceans have been over fished. The EU is not clean on this issue either. If had not been for US and Canadian actions the greedy fishing fleets of Spain and Portugal would have stripped the Grand Banks clean. As it, is the Chinese and Russian fishing vessels devastate the international section with there bottom dredging and take all strategy.

Thailand's fishing vessels will still be having fun in the Indian Ocean and off the coasts of Africa taking fish away from countries where the fish is needed. Never a mention about this in Thailand.

I think you misunderstood me. I meant "who other than Thailand cares if Thailand stops fishing". I don't. Thailand is selfish and abusive in its fishing. I don't care if Thailand can't fish or if the people who've devastated human rights and fisheries go broke. Against all hope maybe the'll learn a lesson.

I don't know about W. Europe but Canada and the US tightly regulate fishing and if the populations in rivers, lakes or streams is below normal fishing stops. Pollution isn't allowed either. Working on a fishing boat is highly lucrative and it is a job chosen by a lot of guys to get a start in life. I had friends who got jobs on fishing trawlers, worked their butts off for a while and made enough money to pay for their college.

Sorry but I have no sympathy for the Thai fishing industry.

Cheers

Countries to the south of Thailand e.g. Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand, PNG, Pacific Islands, ALL have to abide by strict international rules regarding fishing.

Thailand gets away with what it can and then cries foul when this century catches up with them.

[Lupatria]

They learned it from the taxi drivers. If you force us to play by the rules we blackmail you by going on strike.

Or to say it in a nicer way: "We reserve the right to refuse service to you"

Don't they have enough bored personell in the army and navy to man the boats and do something productive? It shouldn't be a legal problem to confiscate the unregistered trawlers. Out of 53.000 trawlers only 33.000 are registered.