1. The New Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 (2015)
The revised Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 (2015) was promulgated in the Royal Thai Government Gazette on 28 April 2015 and will enter into force on 27 June 2015 (60 days after the promulgation).
The new legislation is a significant step towards combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Thailand. The law improves official oversight of Thai fisheries to better reflect current industry realities, establishes a fisheries management scheme and improves port-state measures in line with international standards.
2. The Establishment of the Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF)
The Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) was established by the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO). The CCCIF, which reports directly to the Prime Minister and is operational from 1 May 2015 onwards, is leading and coordinating the Thai government's efforts in tackling IUU fishing, including the formation and implementation of the National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing (NPOA-IUU).