The Royal Thai Police Deputy Chief has followed up the eradication operations on illegal fishing, urging the police force in 28 seaside provinces to continue providing support for illegal employment suppression measures.
The Deputy Commissioner General of Royal Thai Police Pol. Gen. Ake Angsananont has revealed that he has ordered the commander of provincial police in 28 seaside provinces, along with the marine police and the immigration police to continue suppressing illegal employment by the fishing vessels port-in and port-out center (PIPO) for 24 hours a day, in line with the government’s policy to solve Thailand’s issues in fisheries prior to the evaluation by the European Union hoping to lift the yellow-card status.
He has previously visited the Fishmarket Association’s pier in Samut Sakhon Province to check the overall illegal fishing eradication progress. He said that currently, the bay is closed with only about 27 vessels remaining in operation daily.
It is expected that fishing vessels will resume full operations on 1 August 2015 which is the sea opening date, from which the number of vessels sailing out could increase tenfold. He said police officers in the area should regularly conduct joint patrols with the PIPO for the operation’s highest efficiency.
