NAKHON SI THAMMARAT — More than 8,000 trawlers in 22 provinces are likely to lose their commercial fishing licences after checks revealed the registration numbers did not match the vessels, and many had not renewed their permits for years.
The discrepancies were uncovered when the government began regulating all fishing boats to comply with the European Union's demand Thailand end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, or lose its market for seafood products.
Bangkok was given six months to fall into line.
Results of compliance checks by three agencies - the Marine Department, the Fisheries Department and the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) - were revealed on Tuesday by Kamolsak Lertpaiboon, secretary of the Thai Fisheries Association.
The licences of 8,024 fishing vessels based in 22 provinces on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea would be revoked for failing to meet the strict requirements.
The vessels affected were first, second and third-class deep-sea fishing trawlers, ranging from 0.2 to 602 gross tonnes. A list of the 8,024 vessels would be submitted to the National Council for Peace and Order for revocation of their fishing licences, an official source said.
Inspections found registration numbers of many trawlers did not match the vessels or type of fishing operation described. Vessels which had not renewed their registration for several years were also on the list.
If it was found that those trawlers had been used for fishing, the operators would face the maximum penalty, the source said.
Mr Kamolsak said that most trawlers that would lose their licences did not operate in Thai waters. They fished in Indonesian and Myanmar waters. There were also many boats whose owners had not reported to authorities.
He said operators of vessels that lost out as a result of the survey could appeal, otherwise they would not be allowed to operate. They would also face the maximum fine and prison terms.
The EU's demand Thailand clamp down on illegal fishing within six months or risk trade sanctions falls due this week, at the end of October.
Europe will announce some time in December whether Thailand's seafood exports would be blacklisted or if Bangkok has cooperated enough to be allowed more time to fix its problems, an official said.
Crew members sort their boat's fish catch in Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo by Nujaree Raekrun)
