New fishing laws to tackle EU worries
New legislation covering the nation’s troubled fishing industry will be introduced amid hopes the European Union yellow flag warning against Thailand’s exports will be lifted.
The cabinet on Tuesday agreed to amend two laws on Thai ships and navigation through Thai waters. The move was aimed at accelerating the legislative process required to equip authorities with legal mechanisms to deal with illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing matters, Transport Ministry spokesman Chirute Visalachitra said.
On Mar 7, the cabinet approved two executive decrees to amend laws on Thai ships and navigation through Thai waters to alleviate the IUU issue. The decrees are now under consideration by the Council of State, the government’s legal arm.
The acceleration of the drafting of the laws will become a significant factor in the next European Union evaluation of the IUU situation in Thailand, likely in July, and the government hopes to see the yellow flag reprimand given by the EU against Thailand’s IUU situation lifted after that evaluation, Mr Chirute said.
It is hoped the new laws will bring about more sustainable fishing practices, he said. They would contribute to the country’s efforts to achieve economic security and meet international standards for fishing practices so Thailand will be approved by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), he said.
As a member country of the IMO, Thailand will undergo an evaluation by the IMO in 2021 and, with the two new laws in place, Thailand may expect better results than previously, he said.
As for the EU’s evaluation, a pass would safeguard Thai seafood exports to the EU, worth more than 200 billion baht a year, he said.
Marine Department deputy directorgeneral Jiraporn Jantarasiri said the EU is likely to take the laws as a sign of Thailand’s willingness to solve the IUU problem, even if they are not passed at the time of the inspection.
In related news, Thongchai Itleng, a representative of the association of local fishermen of Thailand, on Tuesday submitted a petition to the National Legislative Assembly calling for an amendment to the 2017 Act on Navigation through Thai waters.
Authorities are cracking down on pole houses which are built into the river.
They intend fining the occupants if they encroach. Mr Thongchai said many fishermen live in pole houses on the water, a custom going back years.
They do not have enough money to pay fines of between 1,000 and 20,000 baht per square metre if the Marine Department strictly enforces the act, and could end up in jail, he said.