The fishery authority in southern province of Songkhla concealed the existence of illegal fishing industry from the European Union officials out of fear of that the fishery export will be cut.     

According to ASTV Manager Online, Songkhla Provincial Fishing Authority on 27 March issued an announcement, ordering illegal fishing operators to urgently distribute unregulated marine fishery products, conceal illegal fishing equipments, and not to dock unregistered fishing boats on Ta Sa Ann fishing pier in the province.

The order was issued four days before the arrival of the representatives from the European Union (EU), who came to inspect if the fishery industry in the region meet the IUU Fishing, an EU framework which is aimed at preventing illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, or not.

The failure to meet the EU’s fishing regulations might result in a cut in Thailand’s fishery export quotas to EU countries, which worths more than about 400 billion Baht (120 billion USD) per year.

According to Banjong Nasae, the leader of the Thai Sea Watch Association, the fishing authority’s order reflects the the reality of the widespread illegal fishing industry in Thailand and the lack of reinforcement of fishing regulations in the country.

“If there is a serious inspection on every piers, we will find this kind of problem, there is no way that this can be hidden away from the EU [officials]” said Banjong. “It’s a shame that people who keep watchful eyes for the wrong doers are government officials.”

In October 2014, the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE) of the European Union issued a letter to the Thai government to point out many serious problems related to the Thai fishery industry, such as human trafficking, hyper-fishing, and unregistered fishing boats.

With the letter, the DG MARE issued a yellow card to the Thai government regarding its failure to tackle the tainted fishery industry, ASTV Manager reported.  

Last week, Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha, the junta leader and prime minister, expressed anger and threatened to summon Thapanee Ietsrichaion, a TV journalist from Channel 3, whose report about the plight of Thai workers deceived into slave labour on Thai fishing boats in Indonesian waters stirred anxiety among the Thai authorities and fishery business.

The PM said that the news could cause Thailand’s seafood industry to lose business, so "the people who published the news will have to be held responsible," Khaosod English quoted Gen Prayut as saying.