Over 8,000 illegal boats forced to stop fishing

[rooster59]

Over 8,000 illegal boats forced to stop fishing

PETCHANET PRATRUANGKRAI



THAILAND NOW EYEING SUSTAINABLE LONG-TERM DEVELOPMENT OF SECTOR

BANGKOK: TO DEAL with the problem of illegal fishing, the authorities have terminated the operation of more than 8,000 illegal fishing trawlers, the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) said yesterday.

The centre has also settled a conflict between a local fishing community and big commercial trawlers by marking out borders for them, it said. The borders are about 10 kilometres from the shore in the Gulf of Thailand and some 5km into the Andaman Sea.

Trawlers that are larger than 6 gross tons must be equipped with a surveillance system, the CCCIF said, adding that this system has already been installed in 4,968 fishing trawlers so far.

Thailand has been making an effort to maintain order in the fishing industry since the European Union gave it a yellow card in April for its illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices. However, the EU extended its six-month deadline from October for the country to improve its fishing practices.

Measures to stop illegal practices have had some implications on small fishing operators, and in response to this, the Cabinet approved a Bt228-million budget to assist fishermen, the CCCIF said. Some of them have been granted soft loans to help them switch professions, it said.

The CCCIF also mapped out a five-year national action plan to counter illegal fishing and get fishing folk in the Kingdom to comply with international standards, it said.

Vice Admiral Jumpol Lumpiganon, as chairman of the CCCIF, told the press yesterday that Thailand had taken big steps in combating issues related to labour and illegal fishing over the past year in response to the EU's demands.

"The Kingdom is now looking beyond accomplishing the EU's decision on whether to upgrade Thailand, as the country is moving in the right direction, which meets international standards. We hope Thailand will pass all assessments in the future," he said.

Jumpol added that the government had been working closely with the private sector and had set up a management plan to deal with IUU fishing by issuing and enforcing many laws and regulations.

He added that 22 EU envoys had said in an initial meeting that they were quite satisfied with Thailand's moves to fix IUU issues. He said the EU would send a team to check on Thailand's efforts next month, before deciding whether it will maintain the country's yellow card or upgrade or downgrade its status.

He said the EU would have to provide a clear explanation if it decides to continue maintain the yellow card or downgrade its status, especially since the Kingdom has been making strong efforts to tackle IUU.

In addition to the sustainable development of the fishing industry, the government is drawing up a new bill on protecting national marine interests by integrating the work of 16 government agencies. The process of enacting this new bill is expected to be completed in six months to a year, after which the government will turn its Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing into a centre for protecting national marine interests.

Arak Prommanee, director-general of the Department of Employment, said the government was also going ahead with enforcing stringent laws to protect youth. Under the new labour-protection law, anybody in the fishing industry employing workers under the age of 18 will be subject to maximum punishment.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Over-8000-illegal-boats-forced-to-stop-fishing-30274375.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-05

[Reigntax]

And the question that really needs to be asked. How were 8,000 illegal fishing boats allowed to operate for so long and what charges are being laid against the authorities for dereliction of duty?

[Jonathan Fairfield]

Topic already running here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/876093-8000-illegal-fishing-boats-forced-to-stay-ashore/