Eight fisheries-related organizations in Thailand have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to promote sustainable and responsible fisheries production.
These organizations include the National Fisheries Association of Thailand, the Thai Fishmeal Producers Association, the Thai Feed Mill Association, the Thai Frozen Foods Association, the Thai Food Processors’ Association, the Thai Shrimp Association, the Thai Tuna Industry Association, and the Thai Overseas Fisheries Association.
Director-General of the Department of Fisheries Niwat Sutheemeechaikul witnessed the signing of the MOU on 4 November 2013 in Bangkok. The MOU seeks to set standards for the fisheries-related organizations to follow strictly. Apart from environmentally-friendly fisheries, the use of legal labor, and food safety, emphasis is placed on operations against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
Several measures will be implemented, such as a reduction in the small fish catch, a focus on ecological development, and the promotion of good manufacturing practice (GMP) in fishmeal production.
The Department of Fisheries and the National Fisheries Association of Thailand have joined forces in working out regulations to ensure legal fishing. The regulations will cover about 10,000 fishing boats in Thailand. A new unit will also be set up to enforce the regulations and encourage all relevant organizations to achieve this aim.
The MOU signed by the eight organizations is seen as an effort to build a foundation for sustainable fisheries in Thailand. The objective is to push for appropriate use of marine resources and the development of Thai fishery products based on ecological performance standards.
According to the Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, Thailand produced 3.2-4.1 million tons of fishery products from 1995 to 2010. In 2012, the country’s fishery exports totaled 1.9 million tons, valued at 260 billion baht.
The Department of Fisheries has worked out strategies to develop Thailand as the ASEAN seafood hub by 2015, when the ASEAN Economic Community is in place. In the strategies, Thailand will improve fishery production and conduct research on aquaculture feed in order to reduce production costs. It will increase the efficiency of quality control of fishery products, from farming to processing and exports, in line with international standards and requirements by importers.
The Department and Thai entrepreneurs will negotiate with various countries, such as Indonesia and Myanmar, on joint fishing in international territorial waters. It will support joint investment in fisheries between Thailand and other ASEAN partners, as well.
Thailand also plans to create a joint fishery production base among ASEAN countries.