Major fish markets back in business

Major fish markets back in business

Licensed trawlers leave port protests

While trawler operators grudgingly scramble to apply for licences to return to sea, coastal fishermen have prospered, such as this Pattani man who caught a parrot fish worth 50 baht a kilo in the local markets. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)
While trawler operators grudgingly scramble to apply for licences to return to sea, coastal fishermen have prospered, such as this Pattani man who caught a parrot fish worth 50 baht a kilo in the local markets. (Photo by Tawatchai Kemgumnerd)

Major fishing markets in Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon have resumed operations after licensed fishing boats returned to the sea.

Lawful fishing boats supplying the markets had earlier joined illegal ones in halting their business after tough new measures were enforced by the government.

"Fishermen and fishing vendors are now suffering due to the temporary shutdown. They need to make a living so some boats went back to business as soon as possible," said Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, vice-president of the National Fisheries Association of Thailand.

As a result, the two major fishing markets in the country, Thale Thai fish market in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon, and Mae Klong fish market in Samut Songkhram, which halted operations on Saturday, will reopen for business. Thale Thai will resume operations today and Mae Klong tomorrow.

"Seafood will be delivered to ports from fishing boats, which have been properly registered and have licences. We will operate even if we have less stock than usual," Mr Mongkol said.

Sources say legal fishing boats could not halt fishing any longer because they needed to pay workers and make a living. Chatchai Samutsopakul, president of the Fish Retailers' Club at Mae Klong market, said new supplies would also enter the market from other coastal provinces such as Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon.

Meanwhile, the Royal Thai Police Office said it will launch a probe into those who attempt to hinder legal fishing trawlers from operating at sea.

National police chief Somyot Poompunmuang on Wednesday vowed to crack down on fisheries associations or illegal trawlers that try to prevent legally-registered trawlers from fishing. The move came after authorities received reports that several illegal trawlers had anchored in the sea to block legal boats from operating. They aimed to pressure the government to postpone the fishing vessel registration deadline.

Pol Gen Somyot said stringent action would be taken against those connected to the protests. Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha also instructed the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing to provide assistance to legally registered trawler operators.

Meanwhile, Department of Fisheries director-general Jumpol Sanguansin said the department will visit jetties and ports across the country to legally register fishing trawlers by next Wednesday.

He said trawler owners could also contact local authorities if they have any problems in registering their boats by the deadline. 

The department will also work with financial institutes on providing low interest rate loans for fishing boat operators to help them replace illegal equipment with legal gear as required by EU sanctions on illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

Under the law, four types of destructive fishing gear, consisting of an otter trawl, push net, day anchovy purse seine, and anchovy falling net, cannot be used without a licence.

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