The Thai Fisheries Association yesterday opened talks with government authorities in their bid to find a relief to fishermen affected by the abrupt announcement of the prime minister to ban six types of fishing gears with warning that violators could face seizure of their boats, or even could be destroyed by authorities.
The association represents fishing boat operators from 12 coastal provinces.
The meeting was aimed at finding a way out of the stalemate which had been caused by the government’s invoking of Article 44 of the interim constitution to tackle illegal fishing.
They were also dealt with a heavier blow on announcement banning six types of fishing gears.
But the meeting in Samut Sakhon failed to produce any significant breakthroughs particularly ban on certain types of fishing equipment and activities.
Mr Panya Khanoonthong, a fisheries representative from Samut Sakhon, stated that the executive order formally recognized as No. 24 BE 2558 has resulted in severe difficulties for fishermen in his province who have now not gone to sea for more than three months.
The official ban forbids six types of fishing activities which they say has left them no room to fish profitably.
Similarly, Mongkon Sukcharoen-khana, the deputy chairman of the Thai Fisheries Association, has also confirmed that fishermen in all the 12 provinces involved with fishing have been badly affected by the ban.
He stated that a quick resolution must be found if the entire fisheries industry is not to be permanently crippled.
2015 Thaivisa.com