The Department of Fisheries does not expect Thailand to be hit with a red card by the European Union, citing positive signals from EU representatives over progress in dealing with illegal fishing during their visit to the country this week.
esak Pakdeekong, the department's deputy chief, said Wednesday the EU technical team had discussed Thailand's suppression of illegal fishing, where an action plan has been implemented to tackle the problem.
He said the EU had expressed initial satisfaction in a number of areas, including a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) which has been set up to handle 5,200 trawlers operating from Thailand, along with a decree issued last year to push along the government's work.
"We have seen positive signs from EU representatives, which make us certain that in the worst case, the yellow card will be maintained. It means we have more time to fix all pending problems. We don't think we will get a red card," he said.
But Mr Meesak admitted the EU technical team made additional suggestions, such as ways to boost VMS capacity and health and welfare benefits for fishing workers.
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He also said the chief EU delegate, Cesar Deben, will arrive in Thailand tomorrow for two days of discussions which will help clarify any outstanding issues.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Prawit Wongsuwon admitted Wednesday he was not confident Thailand will be removed from Tier 3, the lowest ranking in a new Trafficking in Persons (TIP) annual review by the US State Department.
"No, [I'm] not confident. I don't know if [Thailand] will be removed from Tier 3. But I think things will be better because we have achieved a great deal," he said.
Asked if he expected the EU to understand how hard Thailand had tried to resolve the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing problem, Gen Prawit said the EU should be aware of it by now.
At his meeting with the EU delegation tomorrow, he will try his best to tell them what Thailand has achieved as it attempts to fix the long-standing problem.
The EU issued Thailand with a yellow card last April for failing to tackle IUU practices and threatened to halt fishery imports.
Asked to comment on a protest by fishermen over measures to fight illegal fishing, Gen Prawit said the government had already provided hefty compensation to fishermen affected by the IUU issue.
