Lesson of the impact of the Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 to the local fisheries, pathway to the consideration of the amendments of the law

Abstract

The research aims to study and understand the appropriate practice, including but not limited to the local and small-scale fisheries or local fisheries for the benefit of sustainable development, the eradication of the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing) and the conservation of the marine resources. Although Thailand’s new regulations on fishing comply with the state’s duty to manage and conserve the marine resources and such regulation may reduce the IUU fishing, the impact of the law enforcement causes the local fisheries to struggle to maintain their living from local fishing. In order to comply with the new regulation, the local fisheries had to adapted and adjust the filling for fishing permit and the use of the fishing gear as well as the limit of the area for local fisheries. As Thailand’s new regulations on fishing are urgently passed to tackle the IUU fishing, however, such law, and regulations enactment and the enforcement office may need to gather all information from the relevant stakeholders.

This research requires exploring the relevant law and regulations of Thailand and its relevant measures to better manage and conserve the marine resources. The gathering of information to conduct the research comprises the interview with the local fisheries and the representative of the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to comprehend the relevant issues. Once the problems are explored and analyzed, the study may find the alternatives solutions and appropriate practice for the benefit of the relevant government agency and the local fisheries. The research may also offer any variable income for the local fisheries who lost the chance in the business according to the enforcement of the law and regulations under the Fisheries Act B.E. 2558 (as amended B.E. 2560) by comparing with the compatible practice of international law.  The solutions in this regard may present proper practice leading to the proper management of local fisheries can also be integrated into sustainable use and the conservation of marine resources. This will benefit the local fisheries, the consumer and the marine environment, which contribute to the achievement of some of the Sustainable Development Goals 2015.