BANGKOK, 30 March 2015 – The Department of Fisheries (DOF) will be implementing the Port in – Port out system in the 4 piloted provinces in April 2015 to suppress illegal fishing, says DOF Director-General.
The DOF Director-General Joompol Sanguansin has revealed the suppression and monitoring progress of Illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) in Thailand, that the department will begin testing the “Port in – Port out” calling system for vessels over 30 gross ton, from 1 April 2015 in the four piloted provinces. The four pilot provinces are Chumphon, Ranong, Songkhla, and Phuket.
The Port in – Port out system will record information of each vessel including the types of equipment, types of caught fish, name of vessel, vessel registration, fishery permit, and crew-members including immigrant workers. Vessels are required to report these selected information to officials within 24 hours prior to sailing in and out of the port.
The system is expected to help prevent human trafficking due to the inspection of the crew, both before the departure and after the arrival of the vessel at the port.
The DOF has upgraded 26 fishery coast radio stations into departure and arrival reporting centers for vessels sailing near 297 ports in the coverage area. The results of this pilot project will also be used to improve the entire system as a guideline to the new Fishery Act, which is expected to be implemented in July 2015.
The DOF is also developing a fishery vessel tracking system, operating through the VMS satellite. This project is expected to be completed in May 2015.
