Meeting to ease Thai fishermen's plight fails

[webfact]

Meeting to ease fishermen's plight fails



BANGKOK: -- The Thai Fisheries Association yesterday opened talks with government authorities in their bid to find a relief to fishermen affected by the abrupt announcement of the prime minister to ban six types of fishing gears with warning that violators could face seizure of their boats, or even could be destroyed by authorities.

The association represents fishing boat operators from 12 coastal provinces.

The meeting was aimed at finding a way out of the stalemate which had been caused by the government’s invoking of Article 44 of the interim constitution to tackle illegal fishing.

They were also dealt with a heavier blow on announcement banning six types of fishing gears.

But the meeting in Samut Sakhon failed to produce any significant breakthroughs particularly ban on certain types of fishing equipment and activities.

Mr Panya Khanoonthong, a fisheries representative from Samut Sakhon, stated that the executive order formally recognized as No. 24 BE 2558 has resulted in severe difficulties for fishermen in his province who have now not gone to sea for more than three months.

The official ban forbids six types of fishing activities which they say has left them no room to fish profitably.

Similarly, Mongkon Sukcharoen-khana, the deputy chairman of the Thai Fisheries Association, has also confirmed that fishermen in all the 12 provinces involved with fishing have been badly affected by the ban.

He stated that a quick resolution must be found if the entire fisheries industry is not to be permanently crippled.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/meeting-to-ease-fishermens-plight-fails


-- Thai PBS 2015-08-11

[cornishcarlos]

They could have adjusted their net mesh size in 3 months and be back out there now, legally...

[dageurreotype]

In developed countries those who have been warned that they must adopt new measures in order to improve environments/education/judiciary prepare for any upcoming legislative measures to do so. That's how they got to be developed. Here, they simply complain and ask for postponements/handouts and nothing ever changes.

Edited August 11, 2015 by dageurreotype

[NongKhaiKid]

In developed countries those who have been warned that they must adopt new measures in order to improve environments/education/judiciary prepare for any upcoming legislative measures to do so. That's how they got to be developed. Here, they simply complain and ask for postponements/handouts and nothing ever changes.

Look how often that tactic works. Very often maximum result with minimum effort.

Edited August 11, 2015 by NongKhaiKid

[carstenp]

The official ban forbids six types of fishing activities which they say has left them no room to fish profitably.

I just has to ask myself. If this is right, does it mean there only is small fish left in the sea or to many is fishing or the prices is to low

[clockman]

Thainess, we are different!

[Jimlove]

The official ban forbids six types of fishing activities which they say has left them no room to fish profitably.

Is Slavery one of them ... ?

[slapout]

Abide by the rules or find another way to earn a living. Fishing vessels around the world have been following ever changing rules on mesh siae, trawl width, catch akkowed per season, per area, etc. These factors are determinede by those agencies who are attempting to keep a plentiful supply of seafood alive, thus a source for human consumption.

This bunch have already depleated much of The Thai adminstrated /claimed ocean life and are prohibited from fishing other countries waters. They apparently have no concept of managed consaervation nor why laws / rules are reqired to deal with people like themselves.

Decades of wanton disregard for world wide standards has brought them to their self inflicted perdictiment. Could not think of a group more deserving of being put out of business.

Edited August 11, 2015 by slapout

[WhizBang]

Sorry, but I have no sympathy for them. None, nada, zilch, zip, nyet.

They have been fishing illegally for years, and they knew it. They were given plenty of time to make the needed changes, but what did they do? Zip, zilch, nada.

In addition to fishing illegally for years, they have also been destroying the fish stocks by overfishing and damaging the environment. And even after having been given a chance to change and be 'legal', they do NOTHING and what they want is the government to say 'so sorry, you may continue your illegal ways'.

Just impound their boats, sell them off or scrap them completely (far too many anyway), and be done with them.

Cretins, the lot of them.

[Lupatria]

Thainess, we are different!

...and that's exactly the problem. Unless your local fortune teller (cleric) gives you the advice: and now go out there and create a mess.

[mango66]

the announcement was never aprupt,

They did know it 6 months in advance !

But this is thailand !!

This country have been the only one, never been under colonialisation !

They never learned in their lif means law and order !

And they will not, if you not stay with a gun behi nd their neck !!

And also the officials will get week again and hopefully EU will enter the ban !! 5555555555555555555

[Oziex1]

Why is this still going on, tell them to sort their boats or find another job.

Is the administration of this country only capable of asserting their authority on a bunch of students and no one else on any other issues.

As much as I don't agree with military rule this mob needs to read the hand book and make some of these just disappear.

[AlQaholic]

I think that thing with the lights in the night for easy catch is also actually already illegal in Thailand since long.....

[jonnyscot]

Overfishing happens in just about every country, it's not only a Thai trait,, it went on in UK for years before and also "after"the strict measures were imposed, then when the bulk of the UK fishermen saw sense and started to comply with the measures, the European fleets continued even longer with total disregard using mesh sizes on occasion as much as 50% smaller than the Brits were using whilst fishing alongside each other in the same area.

[kannot]

They will only be happy when there are NO fish left............................and then it wont be their fault, bunch of cry babies!!

[sawadee1947]

well, they got already 6 months. So why complain? Because they did not believe PM could be strict! Well done PM. Go on!

[jobwolf]

They could have adjusted their net mesh size in 3 months and be back out there now, legally...

Why should they, they deserve to be handed everything on a silver plate. Law's and regulations are always for others.

The Government will find a way to give in and safe face.

[Ulic]

Every fisherman wants the other guy to follow the rules but not them. One guy will no make a difference.

[VincenzoA]

Abide by the rules or find another way to earn a living. Fishing vessels around the world have been following ever changing rules on mesh siae, trawl width, catch akkowed per season, per area, etc. These factors are determinede by those agencies who are attempting to keep a plentiful supply of seafood alive, thus a source for human consumption.

This bunch have already depleated much of The Thai adminstrated /claimed ocean life and are prohibited from fishing other countries waters. They apparently have no concept of managed consaervation nor why laws / rules are reqired to deal with people like themselves.

Decades of wanton disregard for world wide standards has brought them to their self inflicted perdictiment. Could not think of a group more deserving of being put out of business.

Agree. In general Thais have room for 2 thoughts in their life.

1. Money

2. Today, tomorrow doesn't figure.

Selected Buddhist tenets and a love of money taken to excess.

Edited August 11, 2015 by VincenzoA

[Balance]

They cannot be profitable because there are no fish left that are bigger than 5 cm. There are no quick fixes. The simple truth is the that it has come time for the industry to pay up for the decades of rape and pillage of Thailand's marine resource. The days of the "quick Bhat" are over.

I, personally, am glad that the EU and the U.S. are there to help shine a light on what needs to be done. Of course, in just a few years, there would be nothing left and no one would make a living from fishing, but the damage to the resource would be much worse.

[Srikcir]

The Thai government should be grateful for the EU and USA interferring in its internal problems.

Now the Thai government "understands the issue" and is handling the illegal fishing issue as it should as left to its own would never be addressed.

Prayut should thank the EU and the USA for helping him understand the problems.

[seajae]

have to laugh at the not profitable bit, they have fished illegally for so long with no regard to size or limit they have destroyed the fisheries and thats why it is not profitable. The only way they can make profits now is by using illegal methods so lets hope they dont back down as it will mean the the fisheries may well improve with all these cretins no longer doing it.

[HappyinNE]

It looks to me that there are a lot of boats that should be used as artificial reefs. Help bring back the fish as well as reduce illegal fishing.

[Nobb]

These Thai fisherman have been breaking the international law for so long that they do not see that they are criminals. The government must be strict to get to get inter nationals business by enforcing the laws. They will still fish until they get arrested and there boat taken away!

[Ducking and]

I do my bit by not eating fish in Thailand. But the hotels want huge amounts of fish for their guests, the tourists. I would guess that may have been one of the driving forces.