SAMUT SAKHON: Future Forward Party (FFP) leader Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit has pledged to help push amendments to the fisheries law and regulations with input from fishing operators and fisheries experts.
The pledge comes on the heels of his vow to continue his political activities outside parliament after the House of Representatives formally suspended him as an MP until the Constitution Court rules on his alleged breach of media shareholding rules.
Speaking at a forum organised by fishing industry groups to voice their grievances over strict new measures to better control the seafood industry on Friday, Mr Thanathorn said the FFP would go over the Fisheries Act section by section and determine what should be revised.
He said any amendments would take into consideration input from the fishing operators and industry experts. He also said measures to rehabilitate fishing operators affected by the strict rules should also be put in place.
Any proposed amendments would not compromise the need to protect marine resources and the rights of fishing crews -- both Thai and migrants -- he insisted.
According to the FFP leader, the Fisheries Act was problematic because it was introduced by a military government which garnered insufficient input from small and medium sized fishermen.
"The law would not have been passed under normal democratic rule because we would have people's representatives listening to what people had to say and bringing those opinions to the attention of parliament," he said.
He said the military must be removed from any efforts to tackle issues that prompted the European Union to pressure Thailand into tightening measures to combat illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. On Jan 8, the EU lifted its yellow-card warning in recognition of the progress made.
Fishing industry representatives say some of the measures are having a disastrous impact with many trawlers unable to put to sea or recruit crew.
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