PM satisfied with ongoing action against illegal fishing

BANGKOK, July 19 (TNA) -- Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said he was satisfied with Thailand’s ongoing efforts to tackle illegal fishing but admitted that the country had yet to do more to meet the legal fishing standard of Europe. After a weekly cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Gen Prayut expressed his stance in response to reports that the European Union was upset with Thailand’s attempts to solve illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU). The prime minister dismissed those reports and said a working group of the EU only urged his government to completely meet the EU’s fishing standard. The government had done much including the examination and registration of fishing boats but it also had to cushion impacts on fishermen, Gen Prayut said. “They do not look into our situations. Considerable tasks must be done. Many people may be aware that law enforcement faces opposition. This delays progress. So I must ask everyone to obey laws,” the prime minister said. (TNA)