Thai fishing boats in the area reported on Friday evening (June 17) that a group of foreign fishing boats was illegally operating 45 nautical miles west of Phuket. In total 65 foreign vessels were spotted, the Third Area Command reported yesterday (June 18).
The Navy responded by dispatching HTMS Laem Singh at around 8pm to check the report and act accordingly if any violations were found. The patrol boat was able to apprehend one Indonesian medium-sized fishing vessel with 15 crew on board while others escaped heading west into the Indian Ocean.
The fishing boat (name not revealed) was escorted to Rassada Pier in Phuket and seized while all the crewmen were taken to Chalong Police Station for further processing in accordance with the law. It was not disclosed what charges were pressed against the foreigners.
The Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command explained that local Thai fishermen had previously complained about Indonesian competitors illegally entering Thai fishing zone to catch fish and steal fishing equipment from their local counterparts.
The Royal Thai Navy has authority to bust them if caught red-handed unless they manage to flee to Indonesian waters where the RTN cannot act.
According to the Navy, there have been three seizures in 2021 and 2022, inclusive of the most recent one. In all the cases the violators were Indonesian nationals.
On April 10, 2021, The Phuket News reported an Indonesian fishing boat seized off Phuket for illegal fishing. On January 29, 2022, another vessel was seized. In both cases information was provided by the Navy.
One more incident was reported on February 10, 2021. Yet in that case the violators were busted in the Bay of Phang Nga and not by the Navy. The operation was conducted by the Department of Fisheries’ Marine Fisheries Suppression and Protection Division.
The Third Area Command assured on June 18 that it continues to protect Thailand’s national interests in the sea, “which is the main income of the Andaman people”. People can report any violations or emergencies via the 1465 hotline.