BANGKOK, 28 April 2015 – The government has reported that the new Fisheries Act has been royally endorsed and will come into force soon, pending an official announcement by the Council of State.
Deputy Government Spokesperson Maj Gen Sansern Kaewkamnerd disclosed that one of the topics discussed at the Cabinet meeting this week was the eradication of illegal fishing in Thailand. The meeting was informed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan that the Fisheries Act 2015, which had earlier passed the consideration of the National Legislative Assembly, has received endorsement from His Majesty the King and announced in the Royal Gazette.
Maj Gen Sansern said the Council of State has therefore been assigned to draft an official directive authorizing the Royal Thai Navy to integrate efforts with other relevant agencies, including the Royal Thai Police, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, in order to combat illegal fishing more effectively.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has also been tasked with drafting organic laws, which will become effective within 60 days after the Fisheries Act was published in the Royal Gazette.
As a way to fix loopholes still left open by the new Fisheries Act, the Deputy Government Spokesperson said a royal decree will be devised separately to fulfill all requirements of the European Union’s Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation.
