Scheduled for the fishing year between 1 – 29 Feb. 2024.
A public relations notice is issued by Thailand’s Fisheries Department to fishing boat owners with a gross tonnage of 10 gross tons or more planning to engage in commercial fishing in the coming fishing year 2024-2025. A survey will be conducted between 1 – 29 February 2024 at the Bangkok Area Fisheries Office, the Fisheries Department, or the district office or fisheries office of a locality adjacent to the sea. The new fishing year will begin on 1 April 2024. Fisheries cannot be conducted without a license if a fishing boat is without a license.
Thai Fisheries Director-General Bancha Sukkaew said there are currently 9,310 commercial fishing vessels licensed to fish commercially in Thailand. The management of fisheries resources in 2023 ensured sustainability of fisheries resources by directing, controlling, and supervising fishing in accordance with fishing capacity and maximum yields of aquatic animals. A total of 1 million products were obtained from commercial fishing tons in 2023, creating an economic value of over 40,000 million baht. The provisions of Section 19 of the Fisheries Royal Decree B.E 2015 and its amendments require fishing vessels to have a commercial fishing license issued by the Fisheries Department before going out to fish legally.
The fishing license has a validity of two years. In order to facilitate the occupation of fishermen, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Captain Thammanat Prompao) has called for the Fisheries Department to expedite action. The original fishing license will expire on March 31, 2024.
Accordingly, the Fisheries Department has issued an announcement regarding the time period, criteria, methods, procedures, and conditions for applying for a commercial fishing license. For the fishing year 2024 – 2025 in the Royal Gazette dated January 10, 2024, informing those who wish to engage in commercial fishing in the new fishing year to apply at the Fisheries Office in the Bangkok area, or Fisheries Department, or at the district fisheries office of a locality with sea borders between 1 – 29 February 2024.
