The European Union's threat to maintain its yellow card on Thai seafood imports over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has not dented the private sector's hopes for a positive ruling from the bloc next month.
The sector cited its partnership with the government in taking action to tackle the issues, including the use of an electronic marine catch purchasing document from this coming Sunday.
The new system will also control the trade of aquatic products and aquaculture development including sanitation. This will help to accurately trace the sources of Thailand's aquatic species according to the Fisheries Act.
The Department of Fisheries, Fish Marketing Organization, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing, Board of Trade and the Thai Fishery Producers Coalition (TFPC) signed a letter of cooperation Wednesday to set up the marine catch purchasing document.
The TFPC comprises the Thai Frozen Food Association, Thai Food Processors' Association, Thai Shrimp Association, Thai Tuna Industry Association, National Fishery Association of Thailand, Thai Overseas Fishery Association, Thai Fishmeal Association and the Thai Fishmeal Producer Association.
Poj Aramwattananont, president of the TFPC and vice-chairman the Board of Trade, said the problems of the fishing industry and related industries had accumulated over many years.
The government and private sector are committed to tackling fishery issues and view the issue as a national agenda, he said.
The government released Fisheries Decree 2558 on Nov 13 last year with the aim of preventing fishing by unlawful methods. This also included the welfare of workers on fishing boats and management of fisheries so that they can be sustainable, Mr Poj said.
"From now on, it's the government's duty to explain in a written statement to the EU about Thailand's intentions and efforts," he said.
"We admit that to tackle the accumulated problems about fishing practices and to amend existing laws could not be achieved in the short term. But if the EU rules to maintain the yellow card or even to issue a red card, it would need to have a very clear explanation for the action in a written statement."
He also said the upcoming EU ruling on the IUU issue should not be politically motivated.
Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber was gravely concerned about the IUU issue and had tried its best to promote cooperation with private counterparts in the fishing industry to create a traceability system for products.
Mr Poj insisted that, whatever the EU's ruling, it was unlikely to greatly affect overall fishery product exports but would damage the country's image.
Despite the termination of Generalised System of Preferences tariff privileges in European countries and IUU pressure, Thailand's frozen seafood shipments are expected to grow this year, he said.
Tuna exports are expected to fetch about 90 billion baht, up from 80 billion baht last year, with shrimp shipments increasing to about 70 billion baht from 58 billion baht in 2015 as production improves to 300,000 tonnes this year from 230,000 tonnes last year.
Associated Press news agency reported last week that the EU was maintaining its threat of a seafood import ban on Thailand because the country was not doing enough to improve fishery and labour practices.
The 28-nation bloc is keeping up the pressure after Thai legislation enacted last year to curb illegal practices yielded insufficient follow-up in subsequent months, said two EU officials.
Seafood exports make up 40% of Thai food exports, worth 1 trillion baht annually.
