Thailand's survey on fishermen population to be completed by June 24

BANGKOK, June 20 (TNA) - A command centre tasked with solutions to illegal fishing has resolved that a survey on fishermen population in Thailand be completed by June 24, 2015. The command centre, set up by the government, made the decision at its latest meeting in Bangkok on Friday (Jun 19), chaired by Thai Navy Chief Admiral Kraisorn Chansuvanich. The meeting discussed problems in the Thai fishery sector, following last month's inspection by officials of the European Union or EU, and then resolved that the survey on the Thai fishermen population be completed by next Wednesday(Jun 24). However, if more time is needed for the survey, a proposal must be presented at the next meeting. Friday's meeting also resolved that the centre set up a control centre to monitor Thai fishing trawlers leaving or arriving shores plus other related issues and submit a report to EU within its specified period. Besides, legal experts are required to inform progress on the draft amendment of the Thai Fishery Law B.E. 2558 (2015) by using South Korea and the Philippines’ law amendments as a model at the next meeting. The amended Thai Fishery Law is scheduled to be enforced as of July 1, 2015. EU recently issued the "yellow card" against Thailand for illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, demanding that the issue be addressed; otherwise, Thai fishery products would be banned in the 28-member trade bloc. (TNA)