BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) — Thailand insists on its opposition to illegal fishing and promises to follow internationally recognized practices.
Deputy Prime Minister/Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon delivered the message while opening an event to mark the International Day for the Fight Against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing (IUU Day). The United Nations declared the special day on June 5.
The Department of Fisheries and the Food and Agriculture Organization held the event to raise awareness of threats from IUU fishing.
Gen Prawit said the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives had fought against IUU for four years and successfully had a yellow card on Thailand’s fishing industry withdrawn on Jan 8.
The government bought 30% of 309 illegal fishing boats from operators and was destroying them. The fishing industry must observe the standards of the European Union and other international organizations, Gen Prawit said. (TNA)
