BANGKOK, June 29 (TNA) – Demands by unlicensed fishing trawlers that they would stop fishing from Tuesday would affect both the marine animal industry and local consumption, said Paiboon Ponsuwanna, an adviser of the Thai National Shippers’ Council.
Thai fishery products contain good quality now and many foreign tourists visiting Thailand consume them a lot, said Mr. Paiboon.
Concerned officials have allowed unlicensed fishermen and illegal fishing boats until Wednesday to obtain licences. Illegal fisherman and trawlers that fail to obtain them will face strict legal action.
It is about time for Thailand to follow the international standards and to also wipe out influential persons behind the fishing business, said Mr. Paiboon, adding that these people have taken advantages from the society a long time.
On Monday, concerned authorities inspected the fish market in Krabi southern province and checked licences from about 20 trawlers that were anchored at the shore. Initially, they found no trawler violated the law.
An owner of a trawler said he has been involved in fishing business more than two decades and agreed that the government’s decision to impose strict rules on the industry are acceptable as they could eliminate human trafficking problem and create more confidence to foreign countries, especially when the Association of Southeast Asian Nations is to be implemented at the end of this year.
In the southern Trang’s Kantang district, officials installed a vessel monitoring system (VMS) on fishing boats as required by the new law and also checked fishing registration of 250 trawlers operated in the district.
Owners of trawlers said although their costs have increased due to installation of VMS and to report on how many marine animals they have caught, they are willing to follow the rule. (TNA)
