SAMUT SAKHON – The Department of Fisheries has dispatched its first two onboard observers to monitor transfer and fishing vessels during 5 July – 30 September 2016, says MOAC official.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC) Permanent-Secretary Teerapat Prayurasiddhi spoke about the ministry’s decision to deploy two onboard observers on fishing vessels, saying that this action is in accordance with the requirements to all vessels permitted to fish outside of Thai waters, which states that there must be an observer onboard to upgrade the nation’s fishery practices to meet international standards.
He said onboard observers have been trained with the Fisheries Observer Onboard Program, and are required to possess relevant knowledge on science, fisheries, ships, marine navigation, and law. Onboard observers will be responsible in observation and recording key information such as the volume of catches and the fishing tools used, to determine the catch per unit’s effort value. Assessing the values would eventually lead to better management in fisheries to enhance the industry’s sustainability.
Fishing boat owners can make requests to the Department of Fisheries for the allocation of onboard observers. Seven requests have already been made by fishing boat owners to station onboard observers on their vessels.
