SONGKHLA, 31 July 2015 – The Songkhla Fishermen’s Association said the U.S. decision to keep Thailand at Tier 3 on its 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report does not have any significant impact on the fishing industry in the province.
According to the Association, most fish and crustaceans caught are only sold in domestic markets and to neighboring nations. However, there are only 100 legal fishing vessels remaining at the pier.
Their landings are reportedly too small for oversea markets. Many seafood suppliers were forced to procure certain types of fish from Phuket and other coastal provinces for export to Singapore and Malaysia.
Songkhla Fishermen’s Association President Praporn Ake-uru said he is more concerned about the number of fishing boats in the sea than Thailand being kept at Tier 3 in the human trafficking report.
Several fishing vessels have remained moored since the crackdown on illegal fishing began. Only 10% of boats that supply seafood to Songkhla have been registered.
