Activists express concern that Thailand is reverting to old, detrimental practices in its fisheries sector.

Thailand's fisheries sector, long marred by allegations of overexploitation, labour abuse, and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) catch, is once again at the centre of debate. Woraphop Viriyaroj, a member of parliament and deputy chair of the Senate committee, is considering amendments to the Fisheries Act.

The proposed changes, if passed, could potentially turn the clock back to a time of overexploitation of marine resources. Jirasak "Boot" Meerit, a fisherman from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, western Thailand, fears that the new act will bring back the bad old days.

In 2015, Thailand passed a landmark fisheries ordinance to regulate the industry and address issues such as labour abuse and IUU catch. Since then, fish populations in areas including the Andaman Sea have begun to rebound. However, the proposed amendments could undo these gains.

One of the most contentious proposals is the permission for night fishing at more than 12 nautical miles from the shore, using nets with a mesh finer than 2.5 centimeters. Activists believe that this could potentially cost Thailand billions of dollars per year in lost species and damage ecosystems upon which other fisheries rely.

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has identified 15 concerning amendments in the proposed changes, 15 of which have since been amended. The EJF claims that transhipment of catches between boats at sea could potentially be opaque and allow for the transfer of illegal catch.

Under the proposed amendments, factories identified to have forced or child labour could potentially continue operating normally during an investigation. This has raised concerns about the protection of workers' rights.

Remaining problems, according to the EJF, include tariffs on low-value catch, also known as "trash fish". The Department of Fisheries says the industry supported more than two million jobs in 2,500 fishing villages as of 2018.

Viriyaroj insists that the Labour Protection in Fisheries Act, passed in 2019, is sufficient, but acknowledges that the punishments for violators are tougher in the 2015 act. Vessels wishing to tranship would have to register and comply with regulations, according to Viriyaroj.

Activists and fishers say they do not expect to be able to halt the bill altogether, but pushing for changes is seen as crucial. On 7 February, Meerit joined dozens of other activists and fishers outside parliament in Bangkok to protest the proposed changes.

The current Fisheries Act has helped to curb these practices, but the government's attempts to boost the industry by amending the Fisheries Act have brought these issues to the fore again. The Federation of Thai Fisher Folk Association, of which Meerit is a member, has been holding regular events in the capital to protest the proposals.

Meerit started fishing to catch blue crab and mackerel when he bought his own boat. He has seen the destructive practices firsthand, even while they have been illegal. Damage to the environment is a major concern of those opposed to the proposals.

The new legislation could potentially allow hundreds, if not thousands, of fishing vessels to tranship catches while at sea. This could potentially be opaque and allow for the transfer of illegal catch. The EJF warns that this could undermine coordinated enforcement efforts and lead to increased violations.

Fishermen and activists protesting against the proposed changes to Thailand's fisheries legislation fear that these amendments could undo past progress in regulating fisheries and combating IUU fishing. They worry that weakening these rules could lead to increased violations and undermine coordinated enforcement efforts.

Thomson, an advocate for fisheries reform, says changes to rules on transferring catches between boats at sea are "the biggest red flag". The proposed amendments to the Fisheries Act are currently being debated by politicians, and the outcome remains uncertain.

Activists express concern that Thailand is reverting to old, detrimental practices in its fisheries sector.