Thailand Fisheries: Vessel Registration and Fishing Licences

TL;DR

Thailand reformed its fisheries framework with the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E. 2558 (2015) following EU yellow-card concerns about illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The Department of Fisheries (กรมประมง) licenses commercial fishing and vessel operations. Vessel registration is required for fishing vessels of specified gross tonnage. Foreign nationals face restrictions: commercial fishing vessels must be Thai-flagged with Thai-majority ownership, and foreign crew arrangements are tightly regulated under labour and immigration rules.

Licensing Framework

Vessel Tracking and Reporting

• Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) mandatory for commercial vessels of specified tonnage.
• Electronic logbook reporting.
• Port-in / port-out inspection regime.
• Catch certification for export — EU IUU regulation compliance.

Labour Regulation

The fisheries sector has dedicated labour protections following migrant-worker concerns:

• Royal Ordinance on Foreign Worker Management B.E. 2560 (2017) — sector-specific provisions for fishing crew.
• Mandatory employment contracts, wage protection, rest days.
• Centralised registration of foreign fishing crew with Department of Employment.
• Vessel-side conditions inspections.

Foreign Investment

• Marine fishing in Thai waters: Thai-majority vessel ownership required.
• Aquaculture: depends on category; some require FBA analysis.
• Seafood processing for export: more accommodative; BOI promotion available.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these traps:

• Operating without VMS reporting — penalties include vessel impoundment.
• Employing foreign crew through unregistered brokers.
• Mixing aquaculture and capture-fishery records.
• Failing IUU catch certification — affects export market access.

FAQs

1. Can foreigners own a fishing vessel?Marine commercial fishing vessels in Thai waters generally require Thai-majority ownership. Aquaculture and processing have different structures.

2. What about recreational fishing?Recreational fishing in Thai waters has fewer formalities but locality-specific rules apply (national parks, protected areas).

3. Is squid jigging in EEZ regulated?Yes — all commercial activity in Thai EEZ requires licensing. Foreign vessels in Thai EEZ need specific permits.

4. Are pleasure-craft and recreational sailing regulated similarly?

No — pleasure-craft fall under the Marine Department's general vessel registration; the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries B.E. 2558 (2015) focuses on commercial fishing. Recreational fishing licences exist in specific areas.

5. Does the EU IUU yellow-card affect exports?

The yellow-card was issued in 2015 and lifted in 2019 following reforms. Catch certification under the IUU regulation remains the access requirement for EU export markets.

Related Reading

• Maritime Law Hub
• Business in Thailand Hub