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The fishery and seafood industry is very important to Thailand's economy, with around two million people employed across the whole industry. Accordingly, the Government has moved towards a more sustainable and environmentally-friendly fisheries industry, including implementing measure to fight against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), which is currently a top priority of the Government's policy.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives established the Roadmap for Eliminating IUU Fishing, the main elements of which are as follows:
(1) New Fisheries Act: the new Act was adopted in January 2015 and published in the Royal Gazette on 28 April 2015, making it effective as of 26 June 2015, 60 days from the date of publication. The Act introduced sanctions up to B 30 million to deter illegal fisheries and the improvement of official oversight of Thai fisheries to better reflect current industry realities. It also established a fisheries management scheme and improved Port State Measures. In the meantime, the Government is preparing another draft amendment to the Act to become even more comprehensive and consistent with the international standards in combating IUU fishing, such as clear definitions of IUU fishing, coverage of the law over both Thai nationals conducting fisheries and Thai vessels in and outside Thai territorial waters, and measures for sustainable fisheries.
(2) National Plan of Action to eliminate IUU fishing (NPOA-IUU). The Government is currently improving the NPOA-IUU, to be consistent with International Plan of Action (IPOA-IUU) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). This is expected to complete in 2015.
(3) Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) to be fixed in all fishing vessels of 30 gross tonnes and over: currently, this is implemented to vessels of 60 gross tonnes and the coverage will be expanded to vessels of 30 gross tonnes.
(4) Improving traceability: the Government is currently improving the traceability system for fisheries products through the whole production chain as well as looking to increase officers to examine and improve database of relevant agencies to enhance efficiency of the traceability system.

On 1 May 2015, the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing, supported by the Royal Thai Navy, was established under Order of the National Council for Peace and Order No. 10/2015 to bring together all the relevant agencies to combat IUU fishing efficiently and effectively.

The Government's economic policies above are complimented by the ongoing work of the National Reform Council (NRC), who, under the Interim Constitution Sections 27-31, has undertaken reform tasks in 11 areas: politics, public administration, law and justice, local administration, education, economy, energy, public health and environment, media, society, and others. (...)

As set out in the Interim Constitution, a three-phased approach is being taken to restore national peace and order. The first phase was to deter the use of illegal force and lethal weapons, to cease public mistrust and alleviate economic, social and administrative problems. The second phase is to: bring into force the Interim Constitution so as to establish the National Legislative Assembly (to exercise legislative power) and the Council of Ministers (to exercise executive power); establish the National Reform Council (NRC); and draft and complete a new constitution laying down an appropriate legal system. [3] (...)

[3] As set out in the Interim Constitution, the National Reform Council (NRC) is mandated to study and recommend reforms in the following specific areas: (...) (viii) public health and environment; (...)

Box 2.1 The Government's 11 point reform agenda, 2014
(...)
9. Maintaining the security of the resource base and creating balance between conservation and sustainable use

In implementing its economic and trade policy, the Government has all along taken into account other aspects, such as social and environmental ones. The policy of the country has integrated all relevant aspects without neglecting other possible side effects. As Thailand ranks top on the happiest economies list in the world by Bloomberg , this should be a good indicator that Thailand will finally achieve the status of a strong economy together with people's happiness.

For public expenditures in the fiscal year (FY) 2015, the Government gives priority to restoring confidence and accelerating the establishment of good foundation for the country. Emphasis is made on providing urgent assistance to the people. Measures will be initiated to stimulate the economy and investments, to mobilize the establishment of infrastructure in order to accommodate future development and the move towards the AEC in 2015. These measures will be undertaken along with the creation of balance in developing the country in terms of economy, society, culture, and natural resources under the principle of people-centred development.

Following a 2014 UN Development Programme's "integrity risk assessment" of the country's public purchasing system, the Government is drawing up legislation to manage the risk of corruption in public procurement. (...) Recommendations involve implementing a 20-point action plan that includes, modernizing the public procurement system based on a revised set of priorities, which would include economic, integrity, environmental, and social goals. (...)

For the period of 2012-2015, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MOAC), the principal authority responsible for formulating and implementing Thailand's agricultural policies concentrates on 3 strategies: (...) and (3) Agricultural Resources Development and Management Strategy, focusing on irrigated areas expansion, fishery resource development, soil improvement, and land development.