Thailand has launched the 1st National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (2019-2022), marking Thailand as the 1st country in Asia to adopt the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights
On 16 December 2019, at the United Nations Conference Centre (UNCC), Mr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, participated in launching the 1st National Action Plan (NAP) on Business and Human Rights (2019-2022) with Mr. Wissanu Krea-ngam, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, presided over the ceremony. Marking Thailand as the 1st country in Asia to adopt the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. The NAP was developed on a participatory process involving all concerned parties along with government sectors, state-owned enterprises, business sectors, and civil societies to prevent business impact on human rights, including populations and relevant communities. Furthermore, to promote investment, monitor business processes, and expand sustainability in the manufacturing industries supply chain. Source: https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3873, https://www.komchadluek.net/news/regional/404851
Dr. Naruphon Sukumavin, Director of the Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division, the Department of Fisheries, chaired a meeting with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
On 16 December 2019, at 9.30 a.m., Dr. Naruphon Sukumavin, Director of the Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division, the Department of Fisheries, Thailand, chaired a meeting with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The meeting aimed to discuss in-depth conducting to support the development of best practices in the unloading of fishery products in Thailand. Due to unloading, it is an issue that has been mentioned that there are loopholes in international fishery management. Which a starting point of Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. The meeting was held at the Kuladam Meeting Room, 7th floor, Chulabhorn Building, Department of Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand. Source : https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3872
World Soil Day 2019
On 16 December 2019, 09.00 a.m., Mr. Chalermchai Sri-on, Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, presided over the opening ceremony Technology Transfer Day to begin the new production season (Field Day) 2020 and chaired the World Soil Day 2019 "Stop Soil Erosion, Save our Future" at Prachuap Khirikhan, Thailand together with Mr. Mesak Pakdeekong, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries and the executives attended this event. In this showcase, The farmers have learned from various learning stations by focusing on the transfer of knowledge as real learning, including agricultural exhibitions and agricultural services of various departments viz knowledge and services for productions such as soil, fertilizer, plants, animals, fisheries, using technology and innovation for rice production. Source : https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3874
Thailand Hosted The 2nd ASEAN Meeting on Combating IUU Fishing in Partnership with the EU
The Department of Fisheries, Thailand, together with the ASEAN-Thailand Secretariat and the European Union (EU) co-organized "the 2nd ASEAN Meeting on Combating IUU Fishing in partnership with the EU" during 13 - 14 December 2019 at the Conrad Hotel Bangkok, which over 80 representatives from the ASEAN Member States, international fisheries organizations and representatives from the EU participated. With Mrs. Umaporn Phimolbut, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives chaired the meeting and gave opening remarks. As the ASEAN Chair of 2019, Thailand announced the theme "Advancing Partnership for Sustainability" to focus actions on the future of connectivity and sustainability. Another important role, Thailand is determined to achieve the fight against IUU fishing in all dimensions. Mr. Mesak Pakdeekong, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, as the leader of the Thai representatives, revealed the 2nd ASEAN Meeting on Combating IUU Fishing in Partnership with the EU is a collaboration with Thailand, the ASEAN-Thailand Secretariat, and EU. The meeting aims to demonstrate a common position in addressing support of financial assistance agreements and build the regional negotiation mechanism to make it more concrete. The most important is the effort to push to be a region free of IUU fishing. At the latest on 15 October 2019, the Establishment of ASEAN Network for Combating IUU Fishing (AN-IUU) was approved by the Senior Officials Meeting of the 41st Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (SOM-AMAF). The establishment of an AN-IUU aims (1) to support effective exchange of information (2) to provide an accessible platform for information (3) to create a network for better communication between the law enforcement authorities and governmental competent authorities taking responsibilities for combating IUU fishing (4) to strengthen the capacity of government officials in the region, which will be useful to deliver concrete benefits in tackling IUU fishing. For this meeting, he emphasized that each Member States was pushed for practical action to demonstrate concrete combating IUU Fishing. Thailand has implemented the reform of the entire fisheries sector to prevent and tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing until successful and leading to the success of the lifting of a yellow card. Furthermore, Thailand to be ready to share technology, experience, and fisheries information with the ASEAN Member States to jointly prevent and tackling IUU fishing. Which, it can serve as a model for other states facing similar problems at the regional level. Mr. Mesak Pakdeekong said, "However, during the past 4 years of the IUU fishing tackle in Thailand. It was found that often, fishing boats of ASEAN Member States tend to Illegal fishing, There were fishing boats loaded with IUU catch, and they ported at a port in Thailand. Therefore, it was often a barrier to the intention to eliminate IUU fishing of other Member States. "From now on, Thailand will not allow the ASEAN region to be seen as a definite pathway of aquatic animals obtained from IUU fishing. Therefore, Thailand demands that other member states focus on the concrete implementation of AN-IUU because it will be the first step towards eliminating IUU fishing in the region. By using new technology to apply for equality and recognized internationally." Sources : https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3866 https://gnews.apps.go.th/news?news=51913 https://www.ryt9.com/s/prg/3077128
Mr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, presided over a meeting to explain the assessment audits of the aquaculture production capacity of farm exports to China
Mr. Vicharn Ingsrisawang, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, presided over a meeting to explain the assessment audits of the aquaculture production capacity of farm exports to China. The meeting aims to be informed of the details of the operations of the DOF's staff who audit the aquaculture production capacity in the establishments that wish to export to the People's Republic of China. The meeting was held on 12 December 2019 at 3.00 p.m. at the In-see Meeting Room, 4th floor, Chulabhorn Building, Department of Fisheries. Source : https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3864
Thailand and Vietnam are seeking closer cooperation in tackling illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing
Thailand shows the potential with a prototype to solve the problem of illegal fishing in "The 3rd Meeting of Inter-Ministerial Working Group of 689 on Combating IUU Fishing," and both parties have a consensus on the preparation to join the memorandum of understanding (MoU). Mr. Mesak Pakdeekong, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, revealed that the Department of Fisheries had hosted "The 3rd Meeting of Inter-Ministerial Working Group of 689 on Combating IUU Fishing" on December 3-4, 2019 with Mrs. Umaporn Phimolbut, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives chaired the meeting. Which the result of this meeting, Thailand was praised by Mr. Nguyen Quang Hung – Deputy General Director of The Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish) and Inter-Ministerial Working Group of 689, could solve the problem of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and succeed in lifting the yellow card in a short time. They also would like to learn about Thailand's experience in tackling IUU fishing in all dimensions, which can serve as a model and a solution for Vietnam facing similar problems in the future. On this occasion, Mr. Mesak Pakdeekong, Director-General of DOF, expressed his gratitude to them and willingness to help and fully share experiences with Vietnam. In this meeting, both sides agreed on the preparation of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on the exchange of fishery information and share experiences in tackling IUU fishing together. To be a channel toward closer coordination between both sides and discuss other cooperation related to the IUU fishing solution such as cooperation in fisheries surveillance and coordination of foreign fishing vessel that has the risk or is likely to have engaged in IUU fishing to bring aquatic animals to landing ports. Such cooperation aims to exchange information on IUU fishing vessels, fishing boats encroaching territorial waters were arrested, including the exchange of other relevant information. For example: Catch Certificate document, Aquatic Animal Unloading information for traceability inspection of aquatic animal sources, also the information according to the Port State Measures (PSM), including monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS). In this regard, both sides have agreed to the draft of the MOU in the initial stage. Next, the Department of Fisheries will proceed to submit the proposal under the proposal approval process. The meeting was held on 9 December 2019 at the Pha-Yoon Meeting Room, 7th floor, Chulabhorn Building, Department of Fisheries, Bangkok, Thailand. Source : https://www4.fisheries.go.th/index.php/dof/activity_item/3854/all_activity/1