Fishing boats checked in Samut Sakhon
Visarut Sankham
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THE authorities have continued efforts to fight illegal, unreported and |unregulated (IUU) fishing, as the European Union prepares to review its stance towards Thai seafood exports next month.

In April, the EU issued Thailand a "yellow card" over IUU, complaining that the country had not done enough to combat the problem.

The EU warned that the failure to take strong action against illegal fishing would carry consequences.

Last month, an inspection team from the EU came to Thailand to check the country's efforts.

Following the inspection, Thailand has continued with its efforts to rein in abusive fishing industry practices.

On Sunday, the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing checked many fishing boats in Samut Sakhon.

The centre's chief, Vice Admiral Rangsarit Sattayanukul, said officials wanted to see if boats were complying with 12 requirements, including vessels being registered and licensed and keeping a logbook.

Boat captains and machinists must have ID cards, the names of |employees must be kept, while foreign crewmen need to have a non-Thai ID card and a labour contract. Men who steer vessels and machinists must also be certified.

"We have also checked on the work and living conditions of crews. We focus on preventing human trafficking," he said, as the EU was very concerned about human trafficking victims.

Many agencies in Thailand had joined forces to tackle IUU and trafficking problems, he said, including the Marine Department and Immigration Bureau.

Boats fishing in foreign waters would be tracked by a GPS system, he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fishing-boats-checked-in-Samut-Sakhon-30272119.html

-- The Nation 2015-11-03

The EU has as much money on the table as Thailand. I think it is all just diplomatic posturing, and no red card even exists, much less can be issued.

Regardless of what final action the EU takes on Thailand's UII, it's clear it has forced the Thai government into unpopular action. Recently a CDC member said Thailand doesn't have to do what Western nations "book," that Thailand has its own way of doing things. But it looks like when money is involved, the Thai government listens.