Illegal fishing penalties put in force

[Lite Beer]

Illegal fishing penalties put in force
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- ILLEGAL fishing vessels and equipment will be seized or destroyed and vessel owners could be jailed for up to five years under a new order by the National Council for Peace and Order, issued under section 44 of interim constitution.

The fines for such offences will range between Bt100,000 and Bt500,000.

People in the fisheries industry have complained that the law has been implemented too fast and warned that many operators will be forced to close, which will cause damage to the sector.

Monkol Sukcharenkana, vice president of the Thailand Fishery Association, said that many fishing operators could not adapt to the law in time because it was introduced so quickly.

"Many trawlers have a mesh smaller than 5 centimetres, so we need time to comply with the new standard. Luckily, the CCCIF [Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing] gave us 90 days to replace them with larger nets," Monkol said.

"However, I still fear that with that large mesh, fishermen will catch far less fish, which may bankrupt many fishing operators, as there is a large operational cost when we go out on sea," he said.

Monkol said he knew the government had shown goodwill by enforcing a strict law to protect marine animal resources, but he believed the punishment was too severe and many fishermen would suffer because they do not understand the law.

"I fear many fishing operators cannot tolerate this new order and many will have to shut their business and find another job," he said.

Order 24/2558 was published in the Royal Gazette on Thursday and is already in effect.

It clarifies previous CCCIF measures and designates the penalties for offences in order to support policies aimed at tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing by Thai vessels.

The order said that after junta leader Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha issued an order to tackle IUU fishing and set up the CCCIF in April 29, illegal fishing and over-fishing were still impacting heavily on aquatic animal resources.

It said the junta, therefore, had to limit the number fishing vessels in the country and forbid the use of destructive fishing equipment by using the power granted to it under section 44 of the 2014 Interim Constitution.

The order also forbids authorities from registering more fishing vessels until further notice and demands that they crack down on operators using illegal fishing equipment - push nets, fishing net traps, anchovy dip nets on light boats and set-bag nets.

Otter trawlers are still allowed but they must use a mesh larger than 5cm. The order allows CCCIF to inspect vessels and police the authority to punish offenders.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Illegal-fishing-penalties-put-in-force-30266186.html

-- The Nation 2015-08-08

[NongKhaiKid]

OK that's the penalties which are now in force.

Let's wait and see about enforcement.

[thesetat2013]

They worry the fishermen do not understand the laws and will quit. What's not to understand? Maybe they have just been breaking the laws for such a long time that they don't understand why it will be enforced now? Surely they have been given enough time to change their illegal ways. Or perhaps this is just a means to make another excuse to be granted an extension into following the law?

[NongKhaiKid]

They worry the fishermen do not understand the laws and will quit. What's not to understand? Maybe they have just been breaking the laws for such a long time that they don't understand why it will be enforced now? Surely they have been given enough time to change their illegal ways. Or perhaps this is just a means to make another excuse to be granted an extension into following the law?

I'd say you've got it covered. The only thing they want to understand is the right to do as they wish without interference.

[jonnyscot]

Anyone have any links relating to the type of fishing gear this mesh size restrictions relate to? Trawl nets, ring nets, drift nets?

If it's for trawling then I doubt making an above 5cm mesh will make a sufficiently substantial difference, when trawling (towing) the nets the mesh will close anyway,, they could install escape (square mesh) panel on the nets to help the younger fish escape from the nets,, a plus point for the fishermen in slightly increased mesh size though could be slightly less drag on the nets thus potentially reducing the fuel costs, anyway it's good to see they are moving in the right direction

Edited August 8, 2015 by jonnyscot

[Muirton]

The language is impressive, very impressive. But -- we've had 15 months of "All Hat and No Cattle" so let us dwelling in the LOS see what the future will soon bring.

[Srikcir]

"The order also forbids authorities from registering more fishing vessels until further notice"

So if boats cannot be registered, how can illegal boats be seized or destroyed?

Confusing order.

[Chang_paarp]

"The order also forbids authorities from registering more fishing vessels until further notice"

So if boats cannot be registered, how can illegal boats be seized or destroyed?

Confusing order.

There is a market for these vessels in some neighboring countries, so the only ones to be affected will be the crew who do not want to go with the boat.

[Oziex1]

The language is impressive, very impressive. But -- we've had 15 months of "All Hat and No Cattle" so let us dwelling in the LOS see what the future will soon bring.

What the future brings, simple I would think no fish in Thai waters, conflict with the fishermen of other nations and a ban on Thai sea food exports by the EU.

Then the inevitable cries of no fair play by some one or some thing other than themselves.

[weegee]

Good news.....Yes they have had plenty of time. 5cm mesh size can be hung to catch fish any size they want, and any fisherman worldwide knows that....

[sawadee1947]

sounds too good to be true........but give the soldier a chance....

[jonnyscot]

Good news.....Yes they have had plenty of time. 5cm mesh size can be hung to catch fish any size they want, and any fisherman worldwide knows that....

With a minor modification

[heybruce]

""However, I still fear that with that large mesh, fishermen will catch far less fish, which may bankrupt many fishing operators, as there is a large operational cost when we go out on sea," he said."

He clearly doesn't get it. Boats that can't make a profit unless they use illegal equipment to overfish are supposed to stop fishing. That's one of the goals--stop overfishing now so there will still be fish later.

[Baerboxer]

They worry the fishermen do not understand the laws and will quit. What's not to understand? Maybe they have just been breaking the laws for such a long time that they don't understand why it will be enforced now? Surely they have been given enough time to change their illegal ways. Or perhaps this is just a means to make another excuse to be granted an extension into following the law?

I'd say you've got it covered. The only thing they want to understand is the right to do as they wish without interference.

Which is exactly the same for all Thais in all they do, They want to do just as they please with no interference, accountability or responsibility. And they will never understand why they can't because they simply do not want to.

No one provides any guidance or role models to do otherwise. The essence of Thainess.

I'm sure they can't understand why bribes don't work with these awful farangs at the EU.

Edited August 8, 2015 by Baerboxer

[rubl]

""However, I still fear that with that large mesh, fishermen will catch far less fish, which may bankrupt many fishing operators, as there is a large operational cost when we go out on sea," he said."

He clearly doesn't get it. Boats that can't make a profit unless they use illegal equipment to overfish are supposed to stop fishing. That's one of the goals--stop overfishing now so there will still be fish later.

This being Thailand I'm afraid it's much more giving in to pressure from the USA and the EC. Also the enforcement may take some time. Historically Thai governments are good at coming up with new laws, but the enforcement tends to lag behind.

[casualbiker]

"The order also forbids authorities from registering more fishing vessels until further notice"

So if boats cannot be registered, how can illegal boats be seized or destroyed?

Confusing order.

Because they should have been registered already!

[Thai at Heart]

Forced to close?

No they aren't being forced to close. They are being forced to upgrade their equipment and way of working. Its called progress.

[uptoyoumyfriend]

as everywhere in the world fishermen do not understand that regulations like those implemented now protect the fishing industry the most ,the only way to save the fisherman is to save the fish first.

[jonnyscot]

as everywhere in the world fishermen do not understand that regulations like those implemented now protect the fishing industry the most ,the only way to save the fisherman is to save the fish first.

Good post, although I'd change it slightly to say the fishermen do understand,, they just don't want to believe.

historically in many countries there is a disagreement within fishing communities between scientific data of fish stocks and fishermen's knowledge of fish stocks which leads to the believe or not believe part

[Balance]

If these rules are enforced, it represents a culturally significant change that will be difficult for some to understand. To these folks, this is simply not the way things have ever been done in Thailand so why should they pay any attention to the change; based on their entire life experience, the new rules will just go away in a few weeks and things will revert to business as usual.

The new rules also require people in the industry to understand something about marine ecology and the concept of sustainability. Understanding these things were a reach for U.S. fishermen back in the 1960's and 1970's when overfishing caused major problems and they had to come to terms with the fact that only so many tons could be harvested in a given year.

Some within the industry will understand these things and their efforts to educate their fellow workers should be supported as much as possible.

[AleG]

as everywhere in the world fishermen do not understand that regulations like those implemented now protect the fishing industry the most ,the only way to save the fisherman is to save the fish first.

I don't think the problem is that they don't understand that, the problem is The Tragedy of the Commons, a race to the bottom, get it while you can. So far there has not been any incentive to operate in a sustainable way, not an immediate one at least; for an individual operator to do so would result in a loss compared with the competitors, more hassle, less payoff. If there's nothing to force the change, why change?

To break a vicious cycle like that it's necessary for a third party to step in and set rules, good it's being done, should have happened 20 years ago at least.

[fxe1200]

I am sorry for those guys, but they should face the real facts, which they know by their experiences. They need to look for another income,

fishing will only get worse. "In 1960, they could catch fish up to 297.8 kg per hour, but in 2011 it is just only 17.8 kg per hour".

Source:

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, (2012). Status of Marine and Coastal Resources 2007, , Department of Fisheries,

Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives

[AlQaholic]

So now they will have to carry two sets of nets, one with large mesh lying on deck for authorities to see, and another hidden with fine mesh which will be used to catch fish.....