Fishermen to petition govt over ‘harsh’ new law

[snoop1130]

Fishermen to petition govt over ‘harsh’ new law
The Nation

BANGKOK -- REPRESENTATIVES of fishermen nationwide will Tuesday petition the government to review the Fisheries Royal Ordinance bill introduced last month, which they say is “too strict”.

Trang fishermen club director Sawaeng Khun-arj said the Prayut government passed the law to please the European Union even though it put local fishermen at a disadvantage.

Sawaeng said the government cancelled the Fisheries Act 2015 that was the product of a 16-year nationwide struggle on behalf of fishermen, although it had been in force for only a fortnight, and failed to give fishermen a chance to take part in the drafting of the royal ordinance law.

He said the new law had many new rules and regulations that hampered fishermen who used small boats.

If the government continued to ignore his group's call for a review of the one-month-old ordinance, Sawaeng said, fishermen would petition the United Nations.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/Fishermen-to-petition-govt-over-harsh-new-law-30275370.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-21

[ratcatcher]

".........Sawaeng said, fishermen would petition the United Nations."

Good luck with that me boys. You have managed to bring Thailand's fishing practices under the international spotlight due to illegal fishing and crewing practices. But, yes, go ahead and enjoy your communications with Mr Moon.

[Charly2007]

555

[manarak]

He said the new law had many new rules and regulations that hampered fishermen who used small boats.

bad reporting.

the reader can't form an opinion on whether the fishermen's claims are justified or not. what are examples of new rules hampering small operations?

[Reigntax]

Petition the UN... please let us keep our slaves and rape the oceans.

[Kasset Tak]

Apparently the fishermen can't understand that IF/WHEN Thailand get's black listed the price on fish will fall like a rock in Thailand, they might get 50% of the price they get today. Another problem is that they don't seem to understand that if they continue to catch fish like today then in 10-20 years there will be no more fish in the ocean to catch!

It is the same with Thais and plastic bags! I even bought a pinto (one of these stainless steel food containers that Thai worker use) to use when I buy take out food and still sometimes they pack the food in a bag and then put the bag in the pinto...

[Pib]

Summary: us not happy with the new law...us like to do whatever we want....us not happy now...make us happy again.

[jaltsc]

"If the government continued to ignore his group's call for a review of the one-month-old ordinance, Sawaeng said, fishermen would petition the United Nations."

Right...The U.N. would love to hear why slavery is in the best interest of everyone.

Edited December 21, 2015 by jaltsc

[hanuman2543]

"If the government continued to ignore his group's call for a review of the one-month-old ordinance, Sawaeng said, fishermen would petition the United Nations."

Right...The U.N. would love to hear why slavery is in the best interest of everyone.

I will quote a well known Thai politician: " The UN is not my father"

[Oziex1]

What concerns me is the possibility or the likelihood of targeting the small family groups of fisherman going about their business as they have for countless generations.

Will we soon see stories of lengthy gaol terms for these small operators while the big guys continue pillaging the waters.

[Bluespunk]

Sorry but I have no sympathy for the fishing industry, whether it be a large or small scale operation.

They are all guilty for the destruction of the ocean environment.

They all bear responsibility for declining fish stocks and sea life.

Their calls for exemptions, special treatment and cries of unfairness are nauseating in the extreme.

I haven't eaten fish or sea food for 32 years and nothing will ever make me do so again. What we have allowed to be done to the marine environment is a crime and we should do everything possible to reduce further damage and allow it to recover.

Edited December 21, 2015 by Bluespunk

[2fishin2]

Sorry but I have no sympathy for the fishing industry, whether it be a large or small scale operation.

They are all guilty for the destruction of the ocean environment.

They all bear responsibility for declining fish stocks and sea life.

Their calls for exemptions, special treatment and cries of unfairness are nauseating in the extreme.

I haven't eaten fish or sea food for 32 years and nothing will ever make me do so again. What we have allowed to be done to the marine environment is a crime and we should do everything possible to reduce further damage and allow it to recover.

32 years without ever eating any seafood. Guess you hate everything about the ocean.

[englishoak]

happy campers then

[kmj]

What concerns me is the possibility or the likelihood of targeting the small family groups of fisherman going about their business as they have for countless generations.

Will we soon see stories of lengthy gaol terms for these small operators while the big guys continue pillaging the waters.

I think it's more like the big boys using the mom and pop fishermen as a wedge to plead their case

[Bluespunk]

Sorry but I have no sympathy for the fishing industry, whether it be a large or small scale operation.

They are all guilty for the destruction of the ocean environment.

They all bear responsibility for declining fish stocks and sea life.

Their calls for exemptions, special treatment and cries of unfairness are nauseating in the extreme.

I haven't eaten fish or sea food for 32 years and nothing will ever make me do so again. What we have allowed to be done to the marine environment is a crime and we should do everything possible to reduce further damage and allow it to recover.

32 years without ever eating any seafood. Guess you hate everything about the ocean.

No, I hate what the fishing industry has done to the oceans.

[webfact]

FISHERY
Fishermen to petition against 'harsh' law
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- REPRESENTATIVES of fishermen nationwide will today petition the government to review the Fisheries Royal Ordinance bill introduced last month, which they say is “too strict”.

Trang fishermen club director Sawaeng Khun-arj said the government passed the law to please the European Union even though it put local fishermen at a disadvantage.

Sawaeng said the government cancelled the Fisheries Act 2015 that was the product of a 16-year nationwide struggle on behalf of fishermen, although it had been in force for only a fortnight, and failed to give fishermen a chance to take part in the drafting of the royal ordinance law.

He said the new law had many new rules and regulations that hampered fishermen who used small boats. If the government continued to ignore his group's call for a review of the one-month-old ordinance, Sawaeng said, fishermen would petition the United Nations.

He said the government did not fully integrate the Fisheries Act into the Fisheries Royal Ordinance, which had 38 articles affecting the livelihoods of fishermen including banning them from fishing more than three nautical miles off shore.

Sawaeng said the law also stipulated that all fishing boats be registered and licensed, at a cost of Bt10,000 per boat. Fishermen also had to pay a fee for using fishing equipment and report how much they caught each day.

He said representatives of fishermen from 22 provinces would team up with those from the Local Fishermen Confederation to file the petition with the government.

Meanwhile, the Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) has announced the elimination of external pre-processing of shrimp operations. The association moved yesterday to eradicate pre-processing by third parties from the shrimp supply chain of its members from the end of this year.

The groundbreaking move follows a vote by members to reduce the risk of illegal labour practices in the Thai shrimp supply chain.

From January 1, all members of the TFFA will do shrimp pre-processing work in-house in order to exercise full control over the work conditions of employees in the extended supply chain.

To help the transition, the TFFA will work with local non-government groups to offer opportunities to workers previously employed by external pre-processors.

Firms that are TFFA members have agreed to adhere to strict rules regarding employment conditions aimed at eradicating human trafficking and illegal labour practices.

"As an association and representative of the Thai seafood industry, we are committed to fight against human rights violations and illegal labour in the supply chain", Poj Aramwattananon, TFFA president, said.

"It is clear that complete transparency and full oversight is required.. For this reason, our members voted to bring all pre-processing operations of the shrimp supply chain in-house, so that there could be no question of any impropriety at any stage of our processing."

Poj said enterprises would continue to work with all stakeholders to address critical industry issues. It was a major initiative that would help boost oversight of the shrimp supply chain.

Association members who continue to source from external pre-processors from January 1, would face severe consequences - loss of membership and "their ability to export Thai shrimp product overseas", he said.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fishermen-to-petition-against-harsh-law-30275395.html

-- The Nation 2015-12-22

[tuanku]

The government denies abuse in the shrimp pre-processing industry at the same time as the frozen foods association makes moves with significant impact on their profits to try to eliminate the non-existent abuse. Who's kidding who?

[Srikcir]

"failed to give fishermen a chance to take part in the drafting of the royal ordinance law."

Now you join the company of 60 million other Thais who are unable to take part in the drafting of any laws under the current regime.

[gandalf12]

"If the government continued to ignore his group's call for a review of the one-month-old ordinance, Sawaeng said, fishermen would petition the United Nations."

Right...The U.N. would love to hear why slavery is in the best interest of everyone.

I will quote a well known Thai politician: " The UN is not my father"

True but the EU is your customer

[bark]

He said the new law had many new rules and regulations that hampered fishermen who used small boats.

bad reporting.

the reader can't form an opinion on whether the fishermen's claims are justified or not. what are examples of new rules hampering small operations?

New rules, are that the boats have to be Registered with Thai Fisheries and have GPS.

[Jonmarleesco]

Dear, oh dear. The fishing industry will see anything that involves it being subject to some oversight, as harsh.

[Ulic]

Petition away I say. Maybe go on strike as well.

[The Deerhunter]

He said the new law had many new rules and regulations that hampered fishermen who used small boats.

bad reporting.

the reader can't form an opinion on whether the fishermen's claims are justified or not. what are examples of new rules hampering small operations?

Exactly my thinking too.

[The Deerhunter]

The government denies abuse in the shrimp pre-processing industry at the same time as the frozen foods association makes moves with significant impact on their profits to try to eliminate the non-existent abuse. Who's kidding who?

It's your fault, Farang if you don't understand Thailand. 555

[tuanku]

The government denies abuse in the shrimp pre-processing industry at the same time as the frozen foods association makes moves with significant impact on their profits to try to eliminate the non-existent abuse. Who's kidding who?

It's your fault, Farang if you don't understand Thailand. 555

I'm beginning to think that a lot of us "Farangs" understand Thailand better than the Generals, and certainly a lot better than the generals are comfortable with. It is the ordinary Thais who perhaps have a skewed perception of their own leaders and a false perception of how their country works and how it has been and is now governed. The tight control over the Thai media and the constraints on freedom of speech exacerbate this and half the population ends up living in a fantasy land viewed through the rose tinted lenses of Thai TV programming and government propaganda. (the other half, labouring in the fields or in karaoke bars and massage parlours or on building sites or fishing boats have a more realistic view)