US' TIP report has not affected fishermen: fishery association
The Songkhla Fishermen's Association said the US decision to keep Thailand at Tier 3 on its 2015 Trafficking in Persons Report does not have any significant impact on the fishing industry in the province.
Most fish and crustaceans caught are only sold in domestic markets and to neighbouring nations.
However, there are only 100 legal fishing vessels remaining at the pier and their landings are reportedly too small for overseas markets. Many seafood suppliers have been forced to procure certain types of fish from Phuket and other coastal provinces for export to Singapore and Malaysia.
Songkhla Fishermen’s Association President Praporn Akeuru said he is more concerned about the number of fishing boats at sea than Thailand being kept at Tier 3 in the human trafficking report.
Several fishing vessels have remained moored since the crackdown on illegal fishing began. Only 10 per cent of the boats that supply seafood to Songkhla have been registered.
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