National and regional good practices in seafood traceability in Asia to combat IUU fishing March 2016 Kochi, India

The Thai Department of Fisheries (DOF) and relevant agencies are mandated by legislation and national policy to take effective enforcement measures to ensure compliance with Thailand’s fisheries and related legislation. Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E (2015) Adopted in November 2015 FMP (Marine Fisheries Management Plan) ( ) NPOA-IUU (National Plan of Action to combat IUU fishing) ( ). Nation Legal and Policy

Thailand has committed to a number of international fisheries obligations as a Coastal State, Flag State, Port State and a member of regional fisheries management organization which require Thailand to take effective measures to control fishing activities within its fisheries jurisdiction and by Thai fishing vessels operating in the fisheries waters of other States and on the high seas. International and Regional Instruments

Thailand as Coastal State Legal and policy FrameworkControl Responsibility United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries 1995 FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IPOA-IUU) Various IOTC Resolutions ASEAN-SEAFDEC Resolution and Plan of Action on Sustainable Fisheries for Food Security for the ASEAN Region Towards 2020 MOU with the SEAFDEC on ASEAN’s Regional Plan of Actions of Sea Turtle Management Foraging Habitats in South East Asian Waters Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU Fishing in the South-East Asia Region As a Coastal State, Thailand is obliged to ensure that the fisheries resources in its EEZ are not over-exploited. Specific management obligations assumed by Thailand include: - determining the maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of its fish resources; - collecting and sharing fisheries data and information; - cooperation with other States and regional fisheries management organization (RFMOs) - taking adequate and deterrent enforcement action to ensure compliance with its fisheries laws.

Thailand as Flag State Legal and policy FrameworkControl Responsibility United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries 1995 (CCRF) UN Fish Stocks Agreement FAO Compliance Agreement Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU Fishing in the South-East Asia Region IOTC Resolutions Thailand is a flag state, with significant flag state duties. Under UNCLOS, and the relevant international and regional fisheries instruments which require Thailand to implement effective administrative and control measures to manage the activities of its fishing vessels in its fisheries waters, on the high seas and in the EEZs of other States.

Legal and policy FrameworkControl Responsibility United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) FAO International Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IPOA-IUU) Regional Plan of Action (RPOA) to Promote Responsible Fishing Practices including Combating IUU Fishing in the South-East Asia Region The IOTC Resolution 10/11 on Port State Measure Resolution. FAO Port State Measures Agreement As a major Port State, Thailand has duty to inspect all foreign and national fishing vessels calling at its ports and to deny access to its ports by vessels suspected of engaging in IUU fishing. Port State Measures (PSM) (FAO, 2009) are being applied from September 1, 2015 for fish originating from foreign fishing vessels (including the artisanal vessel from neighboring countries), as well as fish shipped into Thailand through carrier vessels to ensure no IUU fish enter into the Kingdom. The Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E (2015) empowered DOF to conduct PSM. Thailand as Port State

Coordination with international agencies Thailand as a Member or Cooperating Non-Member has coordinated and cooperated in exchanging relevant information with a number of global and regional organizations.  Thailand is a Member of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC), Southeast Asia Fisheries Development center (SEAFDEC), Association of Southeast Asian nations (ASEAN) and the Regional Plan of Action ageists IUU fishing (RPOA-IUU).  Thailand is a Cooperating Non-Member Country of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).

SWOT analysis for fisheries control and traceability system Strengths 1. The current Royal Thai government has recently focused a lot of attention on IUU fishing. 2. There are considerable resources for fisheries inspection contributed by several agencies -Royal Thai Navy, the Customs Department, the Marine Police, The Marine Department, and the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources. Weaknesses 1. Limited human and financial resources. 2. Lack of cooperation among agencies (both horizontally across the different agencies involved at the national level and vertically across agencies working at the national, provincial, and district levels) 3. Inadequate experience/professionalism and capacity. 4. Inadequate traceability records along the supply chain.

SWOT analysis of fisheries control and traceability system Opportunity 1. The new Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E (2015) provides a comprehensive framework to combat IUU fishing and enhance traceability. 2. National awareness of IUU fishing is increasing and there is a high level commitment to addressing the problem as a matter of priority. 3. Industry understanding and commitment to change. 4. Regional initiatives have resulted in many countries ready to cooperate on IUU fishing. 5. Thailand has a marine research institute to provide necessary training relating to IUU fishing. Threats 1. Culture of weak fisheries law enforcement and compliance in Thailand. 2. Corruption during inspection or investigation of violations.

Recommendation Awareness creation for all stakeholders on fishery law and fishery management policy. Establish a traceability database to serve as a repository to ensure integrity of captured data, enabling monitoring, control and detection of inconsistencies related to IUU practices along the supply chain. Cooperation between all stakeholders including private sectors throughout the supply chain is the key to the successful development, implementation and operation of the traceability system.