The government will begin issuing certificates to foreign vessels unloading their fishery products on Thai shores as it steps up efforts to tackle illegal unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU).
Approved by the cabinet Tuesday, the new process will ensure that imported products do not come as a result of IUU, said NCPO spokesperson Sansern Kaewkamnerd.
Certification, which will take approximately two years, will see Thailand work with the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to agree on the content and method of issuing the required documentation. Once a system has been agreed, the government will propose the certificates to other countries urging them to become partners on a voluntary basis, he said.
"This will elevate Thailand's standing on the issue of IUU, since we will implement rules that will ensure our trading partners abstain from being involved in such practices," Lt Gen Sansern said.
Along with the certificates, the cabinet also approved the establishment of a national committee on IUU-free fishing and fishery products. The committee's role will be to track the implementation of the measures and ensure they have teeth, he said.
The spokesperson said that domestically the government has been proactive in tackling IUU through the implementation of many laws, but most of these are only in effect in Thailand.
"We are certain that our efforts in tackling IUU are comprehensive. However, we have some concerns regarding imported goods," said Lt Gen Sansern.
He said currently the Thai government has implemented a code of conduct, and rules and regulations governing foreign vessels, but these have not yet been extended to other countries.
These measures were the result of a meeting between representatives of the government and the European Union in Belgium last year, where EU representatives stated that if Thailand is willing to make the country "IUU-free", the EU will support and help assist its efforts.
These initiatives, Lt Gen Sansern believes, will boost the standing of the Thai fishing industry in the international community.
