(Information Source: Bangkok Post, on Fri May 21, 2021)

Thailand is one of the six countries which will share their experiences in combating illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing at an upcoming international event, said Alongkorn Ponlaboot, adviser to the agriculture and cooperatives minister.

He said the country's efforts in tackling IUU fishing have been recognised by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the European Commission.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on has been invited to join the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures from May 31-June 5.

He said Mr Chalermchai has stressed collaboration among agencies in tackling IUU fishing to ensure sustainable fisheries.

Thailand has put in place mechanisms to regulate fishing activities including improving fishing laws and regulations, introducing vessel monitoring and traceability systems and strictly enforcing the laws, said Mr Alongkorn.

The European Union (EU) issued a final warning, a so-called "yellow card", to Thailand in April 2015 for its sluggish attempts to improve measures to combat illegal fishing.

The EU eventually dropped the yellow-card status in 2019 after finding the country had aligned its legal and administrative systems with its international obligations to fight IUU fishing.

Meanwhile, Thanawat Tiensin, permanent representative of Thailand to the UN agencies in Rome, said the FAO meeting will focus on matters relevant to the implementation of PSMA by member nations.

PSMA is recognised as the first binding international treaty that focuses specifically on illicit fishing and requires international ports to carry out regular inspections on fishing vessels and to deny port services to offending vessels.