The Situation of Fisheries and Fishing Industry of Thailand: The amendments of The amendments of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E. 2558 (2015) and its amendments

The Situation of Fisheries and Fishing Industry of Thailand: The amendments of The amendments of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E. 2558 (2015) and its amendments 

 คลังความรู้  ความรู้ด้านการประมง

 2024-03-26  219

            The current Thai government has a policy aimed at revitalizing marine fisheries and the fishing industry to restore its importance as a crucial source of income for the country. Particularly, efforts are directed towards enhancing the economic and social well-being of coastal small-scale fishing communities in 22 provinces, enabling them to improve their living standards and ensure food security for the people in the country. These initiatives are geared towards regional and global levels, under sustainable management and utilization of Thailand’s fishery resources.

            Thailand’s Fisheries Reform from the year 2015 to the present has accelerated the process of addressing the Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) problems. During that period,  there might have been insufficient participation from stakeholders in the civil sector. As a result, after the implementation of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E.2558 (2015) for 8 years, Thailand has adjusted its approach and framework in marine fisheries policy by devising new strategies and mechanisms for management with the participation of stakeholders.

         In order to ensure thorough and efficient implementation of the aforementioned actions, the Prime Minister has appointed the Committee on Reinvigorating the Thai Fisheries Sector. The committee is chaired by Mr. Phumtham Wechayachai, Deputy Prime Minister, and comprises representatives from relevant government agencies and private organizations serving as committee members.

 The Committee is tasked with studying, reviewing, and analyzing problems and impacts on fisheries and fishery industry of Thailand resulting from the implementation of policies in the past, particularly reviewing the amendments of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries to ensure alignment with the context of Thai fisheries and international laws. To facilitate this process, public opinions covering all sectors are being solicited. In addition, the government has designated the Committee to further consider this issue.

          Thus, the Committee has appointed the Sub-committee for the revision of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries, B.E. 2558 (2015) and its amendments. The Sub-committee is composed of representatives from the Department of Fisheries, government agencies, and fishers (Fisher’s Associations) to collaboratively draft the Fisheries Act amending the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E.2558 (2015). The draft act proposed by members of the House of Representatives and all suggestions from fishers will be considered for inclusion in the act.

            After the meeting of the House of Representatives on February 22, 2567, the proposed eight draft Acts amending the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries 2015 were accepted primarily. The House of Representatives then appointed the Joint Members of the Parliament and the Cabinet Representatives Ad Hock Committee to review the amendments of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries 2015 comprising 37 committee members to consider and review the drafts, with the draft proposed by the Cabinet serving as the main reference for deliberation.

            The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives by the Department of Fisheries remains committed to rendering information in accordance with international principles and obligations, including UNCLOS, UNFSA, IPOA-IUU, and ILO C188. This is to ensure that the parliament mechanism or the Ad-hoc Committee has correct and complete information to support their consideration. Currently, a draft Fisheries Act Amending the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E. 2558 (2015) … is being considered for enactment.

People Benefits

                      The Fisheries Act has contributed to alleviating the hardship faced by honest fishers, ensuring fairness and facilitating their livelihoods. Specifically, the amendments of penalties are tailored to match the economic status, and severity of the offenses concurrently with fostering community participation, environmental rehabilitation, and sustainable management of aquatic resources.

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