Bangkok (VNA) – Thai Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon urged all relevant authorities to continue their efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and strictly enforce laws to combat forced labor and trafficking in human beings in the area.

Patchasak Patirupanont, deputy spokesperson for Prawit, said the officia underlined the government’s commitment to eliminate illegal fishing activities and promote sustainable fishing at a meeting of the national committee on fisheries policy.

The committee approved the 2020-2022 fisheries management plan, which aimed to ensure the development of a more sustainable fishery and fishing sector and the second national action plan against IUU fishing (PAN-IUU ), which has been revised to cover all aspects of fishing. activities, Patchasak said.

He said the committee had also approved measures that would ensure fair, transparent and expeditious treatment of cases of IUU fishing and related cases of forced labor and human trafficking.

According to Patchasak, the committee received an update on the multiple measures taken to fulfill the obligations to combat IUU fishing and related issues.

The Ministry of the Navy was speeding up the registration of artisanal fishing vessels. According to the ministry’s latest survey on May 20 of this year, they were 56,087.

He said the committee was also updating the drafting of guidelines for compliance with the import rule of the United States Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA).

The committee also reportedly acknowledged providing funds worth more than THB 2.82 billion (US $ 90.6 million) to rehabilitate the livelihoods of 188,134 fishermen and the extension of work permits for migrant workers. sector during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The government’s attempt to reform the management of the fisheries system began in 2015 when the European Union flagged Thailand for IUU activity and threatened to ban its seafood imports unless improvements are made, said Bangkok Post./.