Private sector believes Thailand will pass fishing audit

BANGKOK, Jan 15 (TNA) -- The private sector expressed confidence that Thailand should pass fishing standard audit by the European Union next week because governmental and private organisations have joined forces to seriously tackle illegal fishing and labour abuses. Isara Vongkusolkit, chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, told the press on Jan 15 that the private sector worked seriously together with the government to address low rankings on human trafficking and illegal fishing by the United States and the European Union (EU) because that affected the national image, seafood export and production chains. The private sector would ask the government to help operators affected by measures to meet labour and fishing standards, he said. Poj Aramwattananont, vice chairman of the Board of Trade, said Thailand was likely to pass the fishing standard audit by the EU from Jan 18 to 22 because it was the first country to solve illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing quickly. There had not been any impact on Thai fishing export because buyers had confidence in the quality of the products, he said. Mongkhol Sukcharoenkhana, vice chairman of the Fisheries Association of Thailand, said problems about fishing boats and fishing workers had been much solved and he did not think the EU would boycott Thai fishing products. Somsak Paneetatayasai, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, said he asked members to buy fishmeal from certified suppliers and refrain from selling wild-caught shrimps. Chanintr Chalisarapong, president of the Thai Tuna Industry Association, said members bought tuna from legal fishing boats certified by the United Nations and the industry imported 700,000 tons of tuna yearly. Panisuan Chamnanvej, honorary president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, said that the origins of raw materials used by its members were traceable. (TNA)