On 14 December 2015, Ambassador Pisan Manawapat, along with Captain Suvin Jangyodsuk, RTN, Naval Attaché, Dr. Adisorn Promthep, Minister (Agriculture), and embassy staff, met with SkyTruth and Oceana to discuss possible cooperation under the Global Fishing Watch project.
Representing SkyTruth were Mr. John Amos, SkyTruth President, Mr. Paul Woods, Chief Technical Officer, and Mr. Christian Thomas, Geospatial Analyst. Mr. Adam Reyer, Project Director of Global Fishing Watch, Oceana, also joined the meeting.
Global Fishing Watch is the product of a technology partnership between SkyTruth, Oceana, and Google that is designed to show all of the trackable fishing activity in the ocean. (Source: http://globalfishingwatch.org/)
The Thai Government has made the effort to address IUU fishing and reform the country’s fisheries sector a national agenda. The Command Center for Combating Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) was set up in May this year. Last month, a new Fisheries Legislation and Plans to combat IUU fishing and human trafficking in the fisheries sector were approved. Among several measures already taken are expedition of VMS (vessel monitoring system) installation and establishment of 28 Port In – Port Out (PIPO) Controlling Centers in coastal provinces nationwide. Fishing vessels are required to submit documents and report whenever they dock or set sail. The revised Fisheries Act, effective since November 14, also requires actors at every stage of the supply chain to ensure full and documented traceability.
