Commercial fishermen across Thailand have ceased from their protests after the government agreed to implement a number of measures to help lessen the impacts from regulations to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in the country, the Bangkok Post reported 19 December.
About 8,000 Thai fishing trawler operators and crew from 22 coastal provinces rallied outside the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives on 17 December to demand the government adopt their 11-point request submitted earlier to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Their demands included calling on the government to ease fishing restrictions, address labor shortages, and assist with the sector’s mounting debt. The fishermen also requested the government to spend THB 10 billion (USD 330.3 million, EUR 298 million) to buy fishing boats from owners whose business had collapsed because of the new fishing laws.
A meeting took place last week between Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on and representatives from the National Fisheries Association of Thailand (NFAT) and other fishing associations in Bangkok last week. As a follow-up to that meeting, Chalermchai said the government agreed to provide compensation payouts to fishermen whose boats were grounded because they did not meet the government's minimum requirements under its new anti-IUU restrictions.
Fishermen who wish to switch to other professions will be supported, the minister said, adding that the compensation will only be made after the state budget has been approved.
Those who were barred from fishing because of their failures to meet the government’s minimum requirements will be given 30 additional fishing days.
Chalermchai also said a joint committee of state agencies and fishing associations will be formed to evaluate the impact of the IUU fishing restrictions on local fishermen. A study on the issue will be completed in 45 days after the panel is up.
NFAT President Mongkon Sukcharoenkhana said he was fairly satisfied with the result of the talks with the ministry but will “wait and see if the government can live up to their promises."
The European Union in January 2019 removed its yellow card from Thailand, which it had received for a lack of progress in tackling IUU fishing. In the past few years, Thailand has undertaken a major upgrade of its fisheries governance in order to address the E.U.’s concerns.
But its tough measures, designed to eradicate illegal fishing and address human rights abuse at sea, have hurt the kingdom’s fishing industry, resulting in protests from fishermen affected.
Thailand Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said after an 18 October meeting with Environmental Justice Foundation Executive Director Steve Trent that, despite mounting pressure from domestic fishing group, the government would continue to reform the country’s seafood sector.
Photo courtesy of FeelPhoto/Shutterstock
