Thailand completes fishing vessel registration

BANGKOK, Aug 24 (TNA) -- Thailand has completed fishing vessel registration as part of its bid to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Busadee Santipitaks and Marine Department Director Wisut Wisarnjit on Thursday announced the progress of fishing license issuing, a tool for control fishing and monitor IUU. Ms Busadee said the overhauled system had seen database improvement in the effort to combat IUU. In addition, shipyards would be required to apply for license and report to authorities of illegal fishing vessels, she said. Mr Wisut revealed that no more licenses would be issued until July 2020 in order to control the number of fishing vessels. Since 2015, Thailand has been addressing IUU problems in respond to a “yellow card” given by the European Union Commission. Government agencies have conducted inspection for all types of fishing vessels, in order to gather accurate and precise data in order to enforce stricter regulations which include GPS monitoring systems. (TNA)