Fishers, NGOs unite against IUU
Fishermen and non-governmental organisa- tions are joining hands for the first time to help the government cope with fishing that is harmful to marine lives.
Called “’Thai Civil Society’s Coalition for Sustainable and Ethical Seafood”, the network wants to make sure ongoing measures against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing will be turned into action.
Additional measures will be also devised as the group keeps a close watch on fishing on Thai waters, Wichoksak Tonnarongpairee, manager of the Association of Thai Fisherfolks Federation told a seminar yesterday.
Its ultimate aim is to stop destructive fishing which has affected food sources, the marine environment and labourers on fishing boats, he said.
The network, which is joined by 12 civic and non-governmental organisations, has taken shape as the government battles IUU after the European Union threatened to ban imports of Thai seafood.
It issued Thailand with a yellow card, a final warning, in 2015 after the country failed to deal adequately with the problem.
Thailand risks getting a red card, which means the EU would ban the country’s seafood imports, if it fails to comply with the international standards policed by the EU.
The country’s human trafficking situation is still under close watch by the US State Department, providing further incentive for NGOs and the industry to work together.
Banjong Nasae, chief of Thai Sea Watch Association, says the network will work closely with the Seafood Task Force, a group of key seafood buyers in Europe and the United States.
Concerns over IUU and their solutions will be tabled to find solutions, he said.
Mr Banjong’s association suggested buyers strengthen their checks of seafood to see whether they include fish obtained in a harmful way.
All destructive fishing gear dangerous to small marine lives must be banned, he added.
“Young fish, shrimp and crabs should be given time to mature,” Mr Banjong said.
Sama-ae Jehmudor, chairman of the Thai Fisherfolks Federation, applauded the use of Section 44 under the interim charter by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to ban dangerous push nets.
Earlier, a proposal to scrap these nets was included in the eight National Economics and Social Development Plan but without being seriously enforced.
The fishing situation has improved, Mr Sama-ae said, but the country needs to do more if it wants to make major progress in the area after lagging for years.
Meanwhile, Sompong Srakaew, director of the Labour Rights Promotion Network Foundation, stressed the human rights issue, saying efforts to deal with labour abuses on fishing boats cannot be ignored.