During 9 - 13 July 2018, Mr. Adisorn Promthep, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, led a Thai delegation to the 33rd session of the Committee of Fisheries, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in Rome, Italy. The meeting was attended by representatives from various government sectors, United Nations agencies, regional fisheries management organisations (RFMOs), civil society organisations, and private sectors from around the world.

          At the meeting, the Thai delegation affirmed the Royal Thai Government’s commitment towards the elimination of the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, which has been declared a national agenda, in order to achieve sustainable and responsible fishery. The National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate IUU Fishing for the year 2015 - 2019 has been fully implemented as a national framework. The delegation also expressed Thailand’s readiness to extend cooperation with other international partners, neighbouring countries and civil societies to increase the effectiveness of the IUU-combatting mechanisms.

          As a party to the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), Thailand stands ready to cooperate with other port states, coastal states as well as the RFMOs in supporting the traceability of catches and fishery products being brought into Thailand. This practice is in line with the Royal Thai Government’s policy towards becoming IUU-free Thailand.

          Moreover, Thailand offered recommendations to the FAO regarding the promotion of sustainable fishery, including the creation of a database of focal points from non-PSMA party states to increase the effectiveness of the implementation of the agreement and the development of guidelines for at-sea inspections to provide appropriate monitoring and control of fishing vessels that engage in overfishing, especially in the high seas. In addition, in terms of food security, Thailand supported member countries’ efforts to reduce fishery industrial waste and use aquaculture to increase food for consumption.