EJF lauds Thailand for progress in IUU Fishing solution

BANGKOK, August 17 (TNA) - The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has praised all relevant Thai government agencies for their joint efforts and hard work, resulting in an articulate progress in the country's solution to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. Defence Ministry Spokesman Major General Kongcheep Tantrawanit told journalists of the information on August 16, after a meeting between Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan and a visiting EJFdelegation, led by EJF Chief Steve Trent at the Ministry of Defence in Bangkok. The spokesman said that EJF has witnessed the Thai government's concrete moves to solve the country's IUU Fishing issues raised by the European Union (EU), including a state budget support, integrated actions of all relevant agencies, central management and campaigns on public cooperation and participation in the official moves against the IUU Fishing issues. According to the spokesman, the EJF delegation also proposed that Thailand host a regional conference to share Thailand's successful actions towards the solution of the IUU Fishing and pledged the EJF's continual support to the Thai government until the issues are settled. Meanwhile, the Thai deputy premier and defence minister thanked EJF for useful guidelines and support towards the Thai government's progress in the solution to the IUU Fishing issues. The deputy prime minister and defence minister stated that the Thai government has revised relevant laws, as well as developed the management of fishing vessels, the monitoring system and the protection of workers in the fishery sector to prevent and end the alleged problem of human trafficking. Besides, Thailand has promoted and supported the anti-human trafficking policy as a key agenda of the ASEAN Community (AC). The Thai deputy premier and defence minister also expressed his confidence that Thailand will become a model on the successful reform of the domestic fishery sector in the near future. (TNA)