Faced with regulation, fishing association threatens strike

The fishing industry is threatening to go on strike in response to a government campaign to combat illegal fishing set to start tomorrow.

After holding off on regulating the industry for a two month “grace period,” the government’s Command Center for Illegal Fishing has reiterated its intentions to seize any vessels found to be operating illegally starting Wednesday.

Fishing operators said they may cease all fishing activities tomorrow and are meeting today to decide whether to go on strike.

Government spokesman Vice Admiral Jumphol Lumphikanon warned them to consider the potential consequences.

International attention on illegal activity, particularly the use of slave labor aboard Thai vessels, has brought threat of an import ban from the European Union.

The fishing association said 90 percent of its members have been hurt by new measures requiring them to register all the details of their vessels, registration, equipment and crew identities within 24 hours of leaving and entering a port.

The decision will then be passed on to all boat skippers tomorrow. Most vessels do not possess proper documentation to conduct legal fishing, few are equipped with tracking devices and very few have registered their crew members, Thai PBS reported.

The European Union threatened to ban all Thai seafood following a series of reports from Associated Press in March detailing systematic abuse and slavery aboard Thai fishing vessels.

Photo: Roberto Trm



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