| Brief Background Fisheries management in Thailand has started since B.E. 2444 (1901) with the purpose to collect taxes and tariffs and to ensure the steady contribution of fish supply for its national consumption as well as export. On 22 September B.E.2464 (1921) , King Rama VI declared a Royal Announcement which entitled the Ministry of Land and Agriculture for the responsibility of aquaculture, preservation of aquatic animals, recommemdation on closed fishing gears harmful to aquatic animals. Then in the reign of King Rama VII, Department of Aquatic Animal Conservation was established on 21 September B. E. 2469 (1926) and was renamed as Deparment of Fisheries since 1 January B.E.2497(1954).Its central administration is comprised of office of Recretary, Division of Aquaculture, Survey and Research Division, and Conservation Division whereas provincial fishery offices and district fishery offices are its provincial adminstration. However, on 7 Februry B.E.2518 (1975) King Rama IX enacted a Royal Decree to expand the central administration of Department of Fisheries with the following new structure:
At present, the central administration of
Department of Fisheries has been expanded again to 28 Divisions/Institutes. |
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- Implement various relating acts; i.e. Fisheries Act B.E. 2490 (1947), Wildlife Conservation and Production Act B.E. 2535 (1992),Enhancement and Conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.B. 2535 (1992), Hazardous Substance Act B.E. 2535 (1992), and other relevant Acts.
- Conduct study, research, and experiment in every fields of fisheries.
- Explore, analyze, and research for fishing grounds beyond The Thai waters; and promote fisheries cooperation with other states.
- Promote and develop all occupations relating to fisheries.
Implement other duties as legally empowered to the Department or any task assigned by Ministry or cabinet.
Goal and Policy of National Fisheries Development
| 1. Fishery Policy in the Thai Waters To maintain the level of fishery production not lees than 1.7 million tons per year and to reduce the uneconomic exploitation of fisheries resources not lees than 100,000 tons per yea |
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| 2. Overseas Fishery Policy To produce fishery production through fisheries cooperation with foreign countries at least 1.8 million tons per year by employing 3,500 Thai fishing vessels of the length larger than 18 meters |
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| 3. Aquaculture Policy To increase fishery production from aquaculture at the rate of 5 percent per year in which the production will reach 550,000 tons by B.E. 2539 (1996) of which 250,000 and 305,000 tons are produced from freshwater and coastal aquaculture respectively |
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| 4. Fishery Industry Policy To export fishery products not less than 1 million tons per year with value of 75,000 million baht. To increase value of fishery products at the rate of 10 percent per year and to increase consumption of fish per caput not lees than 30 kilograms per year. |
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