The task force formed to address issues facing the fishing industry following enforcement of stringent regulations to combat illegal fishing and human rights abuse has handed in its report.
It looked into shortages of labour on fishing boats; calls by the industry for more fishing days; and the proposed scrapping of a fleet card used by fishing trawlers for refuelling, according to the Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc).
Currently, commercial trawlers are permitted to fish for 240 days in the Gulf of Thailand, and 270 days in the Andaman Sea and trawlers are required to use a fleet card -- instead of cash -- for refuelling.
Isoc spokesman Maj Gen Thanathip Sawangsaeng said the task force has submitted its findings to the National Fisheries Policy Committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon. No detail on the finds was given.
However, he said the task force last month has also set up working panels to review the regulations for fishing boats according to their sizes as well as restrictions on crew transfers at sea to prevent labour abuse.
He said the task force, set up by the National Fisheries Policy Committee earlier this year, is headed by deputy army chief and assistant Isoc director Gen Natthapol Nakpanich. A deputy permanent secretary of Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives is also a member.
He said the task force is responsible for addressing problems faced by operators of fishing trawlers who claim their businesses have been hit by the enforcement of measures to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.