Government to discuss IUU after Songkran

BANGKOK, April 14 (TNA) -- Related government agencies are preparing to meet on a “yellow card” warning in fishery industry, issued by the European Union about three years ago, after the ongoing Songkran festival, said Deputy Prime Minister Gen Chatchai Sarikulya. Remarks were made by Gen Chatchai after his meeting with senior EU officials earlier this week in which the latter complimented the Thai government in solving the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing issue. EU officials, according to Gen Chatchai, praised the government in tackling the issue during the past six months, however, they expressed concerns over managing the new fishing fleet in the kingdom, selling of boats to oversea, especially to Thailand’s neighbouring countries. Closer works are needed with the Fisheries and the Marine departments so that fishing could be made appropriately with the quantity of marine products in Thai territorial waters, said Gen Chatchai. Expressing his satisfaction on the increasing quantity of marine products in Thailand following the government serious efforts in solving the IUU problem during the past one year, he said it was still unknown whether the EU would relinquish its “yellow card” given to Thailand. The EU will evaluate the issue between late April and early May and then send its decision to the government later, he said. (TNA)