The European Union has warned Thailand of the consequences of failing to tackle illegal fishing, Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon says.
Gen Prawit said Thursday the EU had told Thailand its approach had failed to either hit targets or comply with its recommendations.
Thai authorities, however, insisted the country is expediting efforts to fix the flaws.
The government will try to push any laws which have hit delays, he said.
The EU issued a yellow card warning to Bangkok in April last year urging faster progress on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Failure to address the issues could eventually lead to an EU ban on Thai seafood products.
The EU has not yet set a deadline for reviewing the country's yellow card status after reviewing the country's progress in cleaning up the industry in January.
Concerns have been raised that Thailand is at risk of being hit with a red card.
A government source said earlier a Thai negotiating team on IUU issues, led by the Thai ambassador to the United Nations, Virachai Plasai, warned the government several obstacles remain to addressing the problem.
Gen Prawit said he was unaware of the report, though he conceded the EU was concerned.
Speaking about the regime's decision to remove Fisheries Department chief Wimol Jantrarotai on Wednesday, the deputy premier said Mr Wimol had made slow progress in tackling the problem.
He said the step had been proposed by Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya.
Deputy director-general Adisorn Promthep has assumed the fisheries chief role.
His comment was echoed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, also on Thursday. He said the change was made in pursuit of greater efficiency.
Work is under way to improve the structure of the Command Centre to Combat Illegal Fishing, which is overseeing the reform effort, by setting up subcommittees supervised by the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry's executives, Gen Prayut added.