The fishery sector has called on the government to set up a fund to support fishermen changing careers following the implementation of sweeping industry reforms.
The move came after an order was issued by the National Council for Peace and Order, under Section 44 of interim constitution, that will result in illegal fishing vessels and equipment being seized or destroyed and vessel owners facing up to five years in jail and/or fines of between100,000 bant (US$2846)and 500,000 baht.
The order was published in the |Royal Gazette in Thursday and is now in effect.
Songkhla Fishery Association President Praporn Ekuru said he wanted the government to review it actions because 90 per cent of fishing boats in this southern province had stopped operating. And this was also affecting related businesses.
"If the government wants to overhaul the whole structure of Thai fisheries, they should also help the fishermen by setting up a [career change] fund or buy the fishing boats from them," he said.
Mongkol Sukcharoenkhana, vice president of Thai Fishery Association, said the latest order should have been explained to the industry first.
He said the new standard for mesh, which states that net holes must be bigger than five centimetres, was an issue because it took up to two months to waive mesh. So, fishermen should be given a 90-day grace period.
Push-net fishermen 'killed'
"This new guideline is too strict and |is like killing push-net fishermen," said Samut Sakhon Fishery Association President Kamjorn Mongkoltrilak, in reference to the NCPO order, which prohibits six "destructive" pieces of fishing equipment including anchovy dip nets and push nets.
Somkiet Samattakan, adviser to the Thai Anchovy Dip Net and Push-Net Vessel Federation, said the order caused trouble for many trawler operators and the government did not seek fishermen's opinions before issuing it, disregarding the history of fishery operations.
"If this continues, it will mean a dead end for fishery professions," he said.
Pornsak Yaemklin, head of an anchovy dip-net vessel group, said trawler operators with anchovy dip-nets were hurting and awaiting government aid when they received a second blow with the issuance of the latest order.
An Adviser to the Samut Sakhon Push-Net Vessels Club, Wicharn Sirichai-ekawat, said the order had many flaws.
He said more academic information should have been obtained before banning fishing equipment, with each item studied to see how it could be adjusted to be legal, while trawlers with legal resized push-|nets should be allowed to fish in some areas.
The order clarified previous Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing measures and designates penalties for offences to support policies aimed at tackling illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing by Thai vessels.