Thai PM maintains on strict fishery rule

CHIANG MAI, THAILAND, June 30 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-ocha has insisted on strictly enforcing the new fishery rule. Speaking to reporters after the latest mobile Cabinet meeting ended in Chiang Mai Province in the Thai North on Tuesday afternoon, the prime minister denied an extened registration period for local fishing boats and trawlers, after the official deadline ended on June 30. The prime minister stressed that everyone must follow the new rule to prevent adverse effect on the Thai fishery industry. The prime minister explained that the European Union (EU), a largest market for Thai fishery products, has issued a yellow card to Thailand for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, requiring the Thai government to address the problem within a certain period of time, or face a total ban of shipments of Thai fishery products to the 28-member trade bloc. Under the new Thai rule, unlicensed trawlers and fishing boats are banned from operations as of July 1, 2015, or face decisive legal action. (TNA)