The Marine Department has revoked accreditation and credentials for four maritime training institutions after it was revealed they had issued false certificates.
On Aug 23, the department ordered the revocation of school accreditation as well as credentials for all maritime training courses at Chemstar Maritime School.
On May 23, the department issued the same order for three naval training schools it had accredited including the Barter Maritime School, Thai Maritime School, and Inter Maritime School.
Police investigations revealed the institutions had presented certificates to recipients who did not complete the studies, Sorasak Saensombat, director-general of the Marine Department, said.
It is not sure how many graduates are affected. The revocation was part of attempts to raise the standards of Thailand's fishery industry.
Following the yellow card warning given by the European Union in 2015 for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, the government introduced various reforms on fisheries, including vessel monitoring and inspection systems, and updates on fishery laws.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Busadee Santipitaks said the update of Thailand's status on IUU is expected to be announced next year.
But regardless of the status, Thailand has put utmost importance on tackling the issue and ensuring sustainability in fishing industry.
Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat Waisaya, chief of the Royal Thai Police's Office of Legal Affairs and Litigation, said training of fishery and anti-human trafficking law enforcement has been initiated to equip police officers, attorneys, and authorities across Thailand with the proper practice on the execution of the new Fisheries Act 2015 and the National Council for Peace and Order's (NCPO) directive on fisheries.
"After the training, we hope to see better law enforcement, especially in lower southern provinces," he said.
Jaruwat: Wants better enforcement
Pol Lt Gen Jaruwat added this effort is not due to the pressure nor the yellow card status imposed by the EU.
However, the government is determined to reinforce implementation of existing laws to address problems in the Thai fishing industry that have plagued the industry's reputation for two years.
"We do not care about the status. It's their [EU] job to evaluate us so let them do that. The government only aims to do what is right, not for the status," he said.
He said the EU has offered best practices and suggestions on how to properly address the problems and the government is solving the problems step by step, but admitted the issue is complex due to the nation's large fishery industry.