TRAWLER APPLICATIONS SKYROCKET

The Marine Department is preparing to process up to 7,000 applications for certificates to work legally on fishing trawlers, as the seafood industry reacts to tough new regulations.

Department chief Chula Sukmanop said yesterday many helmsmen and mechanics on large fishing boats still lack proper certificates to work, which prevents their vessels from obtaining licences to catch fish.

Mr Chula said the government is taking the matter seriously after the European Union issued a “yellow card”, or final warning, on April 21 against illegal fishing.

The department deployed mobile units to test and issue certificates to boat crews in 22 provinces last week. A total of 945 helmsmen and 802 mechanics obtained certificates over three days.

Mr Chula said the total number of certificate applications from helmsmen and mechanics will likely reach between 6,000 and 7,000 this week.

The surge is the result of a central government drive on the issue, but crew members will still be able to apply for certificates in their local areas after the department completes its campaign.

Mr Chula said the department is considering proposing an amendment to the law governing fishing trawlers and freight ships that would see them treated differently. The two types of vessel fall under the same legislation. The amendments could be finalised within two or three months, he said.

The department plans to spend 11 million baht of its 598 million baht budget for 2016 on tackling the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing agreed in a meeting last week to exempt small, local trawlers from the crackdown on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.