Government runs fishing-law workshop in Phuket
The Fisheries Department has joined the Royal Thai Police to organise a workshop in Phuket Town yesterday to provide training on fisheries laws to around 200 representatives of piers and fishing associations in Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Trang and Satun.
The Nation reports that the workshop was to create understanding among pier owners, fishing associations and officials about checking marine animals. The event also spoke about boosting screening systems to ensure that Thai fishery catches were legal and met international standards.
The chief of the RTP Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation, Pol Lt-General Jaruwat Waisaya, says the Emergency Decree on Fisheries required piers to register with the Fisheries Department and record information on all fishing trawlers that docked. They must also issue the Marine Catch Purchasing Document (MCPD), submitted to the department via its electronic Thai-Flagged Catch Certification system.
Jaruwat says the MCPD at the piers was key to the ability of the authorities to check and trace the origins of catches. It would ensure transparency and confidence that the catches did not come from the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, he added.
An earlier workshop was held for 206 members of the fishing community in Trat, Chanthaburi, Rayong, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao and Samut Prakan in Chon Buri province last week. Other workshops would be held in Prachuap Khiri Khan and Songkhla.
There are more than 800 piers registered with the Fisheries Department with about 200 on the Andaman coast. There are 10,533 commercial fishing boats and 25,000 traditional fishing boats registered with the Thai authorities, according to the authorities.
SOURCE: The Nation
