Bangkok (NNT/VNA) - Even though the European Union (EU) haslifted the ’yellow card’ issued as a warning to Thailand over illegal,unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the Thai government remains committedto the cause and has proposed the idea of establishing an ASEAN IUU Task Forceto address the issue regionally.
Thailand’s Department of Fisheries together with the EU recently organizeda meeting aimed at tackling IUU fishing, after Thailand became the firstcountry in the region to have a ’yellow card’ removed. The meeting was attendedby representatives of relevant agencies in the EU and ASEAN member countries.
As Thailand has assumed the chair of ASEAN for this year, the countryplans to promote sustainable fisheries because the region’s fish productsaccount for 22 percent of the world’s trade in fish. The region also has over800,000 fishing vessels. Thailand would then like its neighbouring countries tojoin forces in reforming the fisheries sector by developing an ASEAN Fisheriespolicy in a concrete manner. Initially, the ASEAN member states have favouredthe idea, while the plan to set up the ASEAN IUU Task Force will be givenfurther consideration.
The Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, Dr. AdisornPromthep said the success in tackling IUU fishing has increased the quantity ofthe marine catch to 200,000 tonnes annually. He said this is a tribute to Thaipeople who have aligned the country’s fisheries with international laws andstandards. However, there are some limitations at the regional level and it isnecessary for all countries in this region to take responsibility to protecttheir marine resources and live up to international standards.
Dr. Adisorn said he hopes the meeting will allow delegates fromdifferent countries to understand the urgency of establishing the ASEAN IUUTask Force, which will become an important mechanism in supervising theregion’s fisheries sector.-NNT/VNA
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