Fishing vessel registration deadline approaches
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Fishing boat owners are told to register their vessels by the end of this month or risk losing government assistance and arrests.
Fisheries Department Director-General Joompol Sanguansin said that some 42,051 vessels are registered with the Marine Department.
An initial survey showed that there are as many as 50,000 fishing vessels in Thailand, he said. Some 10,000 vessels are not yet registered, possibly because some owners suspend the activities. Some vessels may use tools which require no registration. Some may be used only for transportation. Some could employ illegal tools.
The junta has opened 28 "port in, port out" (PIPO) checking facilities in 22 coastal provinces as well as 10 mobile units.
According to Joompol, registered vessel owners are entitled to future government assistance. The department could also use the information in formulating measures to ensure sustainable fishing activities.
