(Information Source: The Nation, on Thu Sep 26, 2019)

Dr Thanaporn Sriyakul, Department of Fisheries’ adviser for Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, said that his special unit uncovered an illegal shipment of snapper fish in the southern province of Satun earlier this month.

After fish farmers complained about the low price of snappers on September 11, the department and relevant agencies decided to inspect local fishing businesses for signs of illegal imports, which is a factor they believe is affecting the price of fish in the country. 

“We found 5 tonnes of fish being imported in an unregistered boat,” he said. “In this case, the culprits will be punished under Section 155 of the 2015 Royal Decree of Fisheries Department, with a fine of between Bt10,000 and Bt100,000 or five times the value of the shipment, whichever is higher.”

The Fisheries Department has also filed a police case against the importers.

“The department wants to solve the problem of dropping the price of fish with the use of any suitable measures, including the elimination of illegal imports,” Thanaporn said.