Thai trawlers may lose licences in IUU crackdown

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Trawlers may lose licences in IUU crackdown

BANGKOK:-- The owners of more than 8,000 trawlers in 22 coastal provinces may lose their commercial fishing licenses as the authorities consider cracking down on those whose licences don't correspond to the vessel size or fishing activity, and those who have failed to renew their licences for several years.

In a bid to comply with the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) regulations, the Marine Department, the Fisheries Department and the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing Tuesday said a recent survey found a total of 8,024 problematic licenses of first, second and third-class fishing vessels, ranging from 0.2 gross tonnes to 602.

The list of offending vessels will be submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order to issue licence revocation orders, after which the continued use of those trawlers for fishery purposes would be subjected to jail terms and fines.

Kamolsak Letpaiboon, head of the Fishing Association of Thailand, said the ship owners should be allowed to appeal the revoking of licenses as many fishing boats might have missed the survey because they were fishing outside Thailand's jurisdictional waters. He said the survey process was not clear and he wondered where the number came from.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Trawlers-may-lose-licences-in-IUU-crackdown-30271699.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-27

[SoilSpoil]

I hope this crackdown will be more effective than that on dodgy jetski operators.

[ratcatcher]

And the net tightens yet more. Should we feel sympathy for these 'poor' vessel owners who have been "uninformed"?

[Thian]

I hope this crackdown will be more effective than that on dodgy jetski operators.

That's news for me, did they ever do anything to stop that scam? I didn't know that.

[slapout]

Another law /rules completely ignored by owners as it did not generate profit for them, they were in a hurry to

try out their new playtoy, or just could not be bothered to follow rules like many have

The captains of many of these vessels seem to have as much respect as do their counterparts on the highways of Thailand, including a cargo of illegal contraband, including humans.

Get them and their junk iron referred to as ships off the water in dry dock for repair or make underwater housing for homeless fish and other sea life while using as target practice by our dependable naval vessels

[Thai at Heart]

And they discovered this now?

[BigBadGeordie]

Read the OP, "may lose their commercial fishing licences" ;"consider cracking down"; "In a bid""; "after which".

More and more if, not now then when, later, soon, not long, after food etc. BS

[noitom]

These unlicensed owners have been bribing Thai police and government officials for decades. The new Thailand marshal wants to change bag men.

[ClutchClark]

And they discovered this now?

There was no reference in the article to this just being discovered. It is simply part of the "Improve Thailand" process being successfully spearheaded by the General PM.

He is clamping down and fixing so many of the very things TV people love to complain about and now they are even complaining that it is being fixed.

[ClutchClark]

These unlicensed owners have been bribing Thai police and government officials for decades. The new Thailand marshal wants to change bag men.

The article indicates that fines, levies and permit costs will ge collected by the gov't...not placed in private pockets.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Sorry but no bag man.

Look up Paradigm Shift...its time you get onboard.

[webfact]

Trawlers may lose licences in IUU crackdown
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- The owners of more than 8,000 trawlers in 22 coastal provinces may lose their commercial fishing licences as the authorities consider cracking down on those whose licences don't correspond to the vessel size or fishing activity, and those who have failed to renew their licences for several years.

As the country aims to comply with the regulations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the Marine Department, the Fisheries Department and the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing yesterday said a recent survey found a total of 8,024 problematic licences of first, second and third-class fishing vessels, ranging from 0.2 gross tons to 602 tonnes.

The list of offending vessels will be submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order to issue licence-revocation orders, after which the continued use of those trawlers for fishery purposes would be subject to jail terms and fines.

Kamolsak Letpaiboon, head of the Fishing Association of Thailand, said the ship owners should be allowed to appeal against the revocation of licences, as many boats may have missed the survey because they were fishing outside Thailand's waters. He said the survey process was not clear and wondered where the number came from.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Trawlers-may-lose-licences-in-IUU-crackdown-30271743.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-28

[bark]

I hope this crackdown will be more effective than that on dodgy jetski operators.

They will stop the Fishing Trawlers and the Jetski 's will towing fishing nets to take their place !

[metisdead]

It is perfectly acceptable to report on events and give opinions, it is not acceptable to post in a manner in which to bash any specific country. One post and replies have been removed.

Other posts containing paid to post allegations have been removed as well as the replies.

[Thai at Heart]

And they discovered this now?

There was no reference in the article to this just being discovered. It is simply part of the "Improve Thailand" process being successfully spearheaded by the General PM.

He is clamping down and fixing so many of the very things TV people love to complain about and now they are even complaining that it is being fixed.

He's doing it because of the EU fishing ban, not some altruistic attack on corruption. Point is, they must have known this issue was coming when they started the whole investigation. Why until now months later hasn't it come out.

[Srikcir]

These unlicensed owners have been bribing Thai police and government officials for decades. The new Thailand marshal wants to change bag men.

The article indicates that fines, levies and permit costs will ge collected by the gov't...not placed in private pockets.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Sorry but no bag man.

Look up Paradigm Shift...its time you get onboard.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Actually no.

The way the system works in first world (democratic) countries is to enforce the rule of law wherein the accused has the right to judicial process. Rather than act as Head of Government, Prayut chose to act as Chief of the NCPO to exercise his absolute power under Article 44 to bypass citizens' rights.

Edited October 28, 2015 by Srikcir

[englishoak]

May, could, might.............yada yada yada, BS BS BS

[selftaopath]

These unlicensed owners have been bribing Thai police and government officials for decades. The new Thailand marshal wants to change bag men.

The article indicates that fines, levies and permit costs will ge collected by the gov't...not placed in private pockets.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Sorry but no bag man.

Look up Paradigm Shift...its time you get onboard.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Actually no.

The way the system works in first world (democratic) countries is to enforce the rule of law wherein the accused has the right to judicial process. Rather than act as Head of Government, Prayut chose to act as Chief of the NCPO to exercise his absolute power under Article 44 to bypass citizens' rights.

IMO we will never see genuine Rule of Law in Lack of Sanctions/Land of Scams/ LOS. Never ever ever.

[ClutchClark]

These unlicensed owners have been bribing Thai police and government officials for decades. The new Thailand marshal wants to change bag men.

The article indicates that fines, levies and permit costs will ge collected by the gov't...not placed in private pockets.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Sorry but no bag man.

Look up Paradigm Shift...its time you get onboard.

This is the way the system of regulations and enforcement works in functioning first world countries.

Actually no.

The way the system works in first world (democratic) countries is to enforce the rule of law wherein the accused has the right to judicial process. Rather than act as Head of Government, Prayut chose to act as Chief of the NCPO to exercise his absolute power under Article 44 to bypass citizens' rights.

Where do you read they do not have a right to judicial process?

For the record, you have completely ignored what I said and steered the discussion away from my point that a system of govt collection is a far cry from brown envelopes. Apparently you have no counterpoint.

I am always interested in viewpoints supported by documented facts but not so much with the usual "Thailand will never change" mantra.

I welcome any information you have because on the surface this certainly looks like a positive step forward .

Edited October 29, 2015 by ClutchClark

[ClutchClark]

Double Post

Edited October 29, 2015 by ClutchClark

[ClutchClark]

Please refer to pages 42-47 in this 2004 scientific report which indicates Thailand faces a decline in fisheries resources due to fisherman ignoring fishing rules and regulations.

http://www.un.org/depts/los/nippon/unnff_programme_home/fellows_pages/fellows_papers/panjarat_0708_thailand_PPT.pdf

It appears choosing to ignore fishing rules has been a systemic issue for atleast 11 years, thats why I see the implementation of a penalty program including confiscation as being a positive step.

Well supported opposing opinions always welcome ;-)