Thailand accedes FAO’s Port State Measures

ROME, 12 May 2016 (NNT) – Thailand has pledged accession to the Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Agreement on Port State Measures in an attempt to combat the illegal fishing issue in Thai waters.

The Royal Thai Ambassador to Italy Tana Weskosith, along with Thailand’s Permanent-Representative to the FAO Sompong Nimchuar, have met with the FAO’s Director-General Jose Graziano da Silva, to present Thailand’s Instrument of Accession to the Agreement on Port State Measures to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing (PSMA).

He said Thailand’s accession to the PSMA will enhance control over foreign-flagged fishing vessels and better prevent the imports of fish acquired through IUU activities. It will also lead to a broader and more effective cooperation between Thailand and other State Parties to the Agreement on information sharing to combat IUU fishing.

With the PSMA, foreign vessels may request permission to berth and land their fish at one of the 27 designated ports. 15 of these ports will be designated to foreign commercial vessels, while 12 are reserved for small vessels from neighbouring countries, namely Malaysia, Myanmar and Cambodia.

Vessels must submit the port in request to Thai authorities by at least 48 hours in advance. If officials find evidence which may link to the vessels' involvement with illegal fishing, their requests will be denied.

Foreign vessels must also request permission to unload their catches at Thai ports. All catches will also be inspected by Thai officials to ensure they are not products from illegal fishing. An electronic tracking traceability system is also being developed to allow cross-check of vessels' catches to preventing illegal catch from entering the supply chain.

Thailand’s PSMA accession reflects the Thai government’s effort to comply with international standards on combating illegal fishing, and the Kingdom's determination to conserve its marine resources.

-- NNT 2016-05-12

If officials find evidence which may link to the vessels' involvement with illegal fishing, their requests will be denied.

Or perhaps some other arrangement might be made that is in common to all concerned?

Who is going to monitor the authorities who review these requests to assure compliance and transparency?