Trat trawler operators moving to Koh Kong

Trat trawler operators moving to Koh Kong

TRAT - Fishing boat operators in this easternmost province are moving to adjacent Koh Kong province in Cambodia because they cannot survive in business in Thailand, senior officials admit.

Many factors, and in particular new Thai regulations and lower prices for fish, were driving their decisions to base their businesses in the neighbouring Cambodian province, Surapong Intharaprasert, adviser to a fishery association in Trat, said on Tuesday.

The Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing's regulations require trawlers to be anchored 125 days a year and operators had to pay their crews during the four months, he said. They could not see a sound reason for the 125-day ban, and some operators had left the business in disgust.

Besides, Cambodian workers did not want to sign up for work in Trat because they could find fishing jobs in Koh Kong, where more than 200 Thai boats had already opted to register, Mr Surapong said.

The golden period of jobs for Cambodians in Trat, 5-6 years ago, had passed. 

Under the new regulations, each operator had to pay 20,000-30,000 baht per work permit for each migrant worker. Operators were also discouraged by a regulation of the Fisheries Department which requires migrant workers to attend an interview, Mr Surapong said.

Cdr Sophon Tangwitmonai, chief of the port in-port out control centre in Trat, said new regulations were obstacles for Cambodians wanting to work as fisheries labourers in Trat. He also referred to the interviews and the cost of working permits.

Although local authorities had more recently allowed Cambodians with border passes to register for work in Trat, this had proved to be unattractive, he said.

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