BANGKOK, 20 September 2019 (NNT) - On National Fisheries Day today, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives ordered the Department of Fisheries to increase support for fishermen affected by anti illegal fishing regulations, and released aquatic animals into major water sources raising conservation awareness.

The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Chalermchai Srion today presided the celebration of the Department of Fisheries’ 93rd anniversary and the National Fisheries Day, where he said that the government places high priority on issues within the fishery sector.

He said the reformation of the fishery sector has been successful, but only marks the beginning, as there are still issues waiting to be solved, such as some fishermen who have been hard hit by the efforts to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing after the government took serious action to eradicate it.

The Agriculture Minister said the government wishes to see fishermens’ livelihoods improved under the IUU-related laws, and ordered the Department of Fisheries to consider adjusting laws and regulations to help commercial fishermen, seafood processors and exporters to operate in harmony while at the same time helping conserve marine resources, and not breach any anti-IUU laws.

He then released 1.93 million aquatic creatures into four major water sources in Thailand, namely Bueng Boraphet Lake in Nakhon Sawan, Kwan Phayao Lake in Phayao, Nong Han Lake in Sakon Nakhon and Prachuap Bay in Prachuap Khiri Khan, to help increase fish stocks and encourage the general public to be aware of maritime resources’ value.

written by National News Bureau & Public Relations, 
https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3645/all_activity/180