Deputy Prime Minister Chatchai Sarikulya said the government is getting prepared for the visit by the EU delegates who will inspect Thailand's progress in the elimination of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, with their meetings to be held with related agencies.
The IUU subcommittee held a meeting to discuss the progress from the visit of Thai delegations with the EU in Brussels last week, from which the EU has expressed its wishes for Thailand to focus more on the punishment of cases. The Thai delegates have clarified the country executes the law in all cases and has prosecuted 80 percent of all 3,000 pending cases, and that the country has successfully verified the status of almost all missing boats.
A video conference will be held between the central authority and the Port-In Port-Out (PIPO) report centers to rehearse its practices and ensure the preparedness.
The Thai authorities will present to the EU delegates the outcome of the inspection in January where 16 violators have been prosecuted and legally punished accordingly, along with details of stricter administrative measures.
The deputy premier said he was confident Thailand will be able to respond to all questions as the country has been working on this issue with determination to improve the sustainability of fishing industry. - VNA