The Council of Ministers approved, on 3^rd November 2015, the National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (NPOA-IUU).

The NPOA-IUU reflects the Thai Government’s recognition that IUU fishing is a serious international and national threat to marine fisheries resources, and that concerted global, regional and national actions are required to address the challenge.

The NPOA-IUU specifies actions and measures needed to prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing both inside and outside Thai waters, drawing on the FAO IPOA-IUU and Thailand’s international obligations. The measures stipulated in the NPOA-IUU aim to fulfil Thailand’s responsibilities as a flag state, coastal state, port state and market state.

Flag state responsibilities include fishing vessel registration, maintaining a record of fishing vessels, authorization to fish (fishing license), and transshipment oversight. Coastal state responsibilities include MCS and other measures to combat IUU fishing within Thailand’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), information exchange with regional fisheries management organizations (RFMOs), and authorization to fish for Thai and foreign vessels. Port state measures include the designation of ports and proper procedures for landing of foreign fishing vessels, improved inspection at port for IUU fishing and traceability, denial of port access to IUU fishing vessel. Market-related measures include the prohibition of import, export or transshipment of fish from IUU fishing by the foreign vessel whether for local consumption or processed food for export. The NPOA-IUU aims to develop catch documentation schemes and electronic systems to ensure traceability of fisheries products.

The FMP emphasizes the need for closer bilateral and regional cooperation to combat IUU fishing, through the development of MoUs, collaboration with RFMOs and other means.

The issues highlighted in the NPOA-IUU closely resemble those addressed in the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries and the FMP.

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European Union Division

Department of European Affairs

18 November 2015

- Source : http://www2.thaiembassy.be/highlights-of-thailands-national-plan-of-action-to-prevent-deter-and-eliminate-iuu-fishing-npoa-iuu/