Thai Cabinet approves special assistance for fishermen

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Cabinet approves special assistance for fishermen
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE CABINET yesterday approved two measures to help fishermen suffering from the increased enforcement of laws and measures to deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

The first move is to use Bt215 million to buy back the boats of fishermen who have to leave the industry if they cannot comply with the tougher regulations or those who want to leave to try another vocation.

The second measure is to ease access to soft loans from the Government Savings Bank for operators who need to upgrade their equipment and boat so they can continue fishing.

The scheme offers a 4-per-cent interest rate and is funded by a budget of Bt50 billion.

All fishermen will now be eligible for the loan if they get approval from the Port Authority of Thailand or their local port authority. Previously, the scheme was limited to members of the National Fisheries Association of Thailand.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Cabinet-approves-special-assistance-for-fishermen-30275877.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-30

[waldroj]

Sick solution for a sick industry.

Usually, when people do the wrong thing, they have to pay the penalty (not be compensated for it).

Thailand's foul-smelling fishing industry must have some serious political clout.

[shirtless]

The way they over fish i surprised they have an industry

[Credo]

Compensating them for slavery and human trafficking?

That is a loud indication that it has been allowed and probably encouraged.

[Eric Loh]

These are southern folks and have to be help at all costs. Their votes are very much needed.

[Ulic]

Sick solution for a sick industry.

Usually, when people do the wrong thing, they have to pay the penalty (not be compensated for it).

Thailand's foul-smelling fishing industry must have some serious political clout.

Like the dairy and poultry farmers in Canada, the corn farmers in the US mid west, the

bankers in NY and London, farmers across Europe, all countries have lobby groups that

control politicians with just a few dollars. No different here in Thailand.

[waldroj]

Ulic

Very different (actually).

Here, the junta is ostensibly compensating a group of operators who had engaged in internationally-acknowledged illegal practices.

[Solomon]

Wow man, this populism is getting out of control - if it keeps up Thaksin may actually have something to worry about.

[plachon]

The way they over fish i surprised they have an industry

The solution has been over the last 20 years to move the industry further afield to neighbour's and international waters and overfish those instead. This expansion has been heavily subsidised by state funds, so I guess the govt is being consistent in subsidising the retraction of the industry too, now the global oceans are increasingly spent. The money will no doubt be mostly channeled to the wealthiest boat owners, rather than the small guys who are suffering the most from the combined state-private sector mismanagement of the fishery.

[Credo]

So will there be any help for the slaves they employ? Or will there only be help for the slave masters and the traffickers?

[Srikcir]

"The first move is to use Bt215 million to buy back the boats of fishermen who have to leave the industry if they cannot comply with the tougher regulations or those who want to leave to try another vocation."

Great generosity!

How about extending such benefits to all the street vendors, forest loggers, river vendors, beach bed & umbrella vendors, etc. who were put out of business by the Junta? Or are they not politically connected enough?

[ldiablo]

Sick solution for a sick industry.

Usually, when people do the wrong thing, they have to pay the penalty (not be compensated for it).

Thailand's foul-smelling fishing industry must have some serious political clout.

Like the dairy and poultry farmers in Canada, the corn farmers in the US mid west, the

bankers in NY and London, farmers across Europe, all countries have lobby groups that

control politicians with just a few dollars. No different here in Thailand.

I did not realize those industries you speak of were using slave labour in their everyday operations.