On January 4, the Thai naval vessel HTMS Laem Sing intercepted and seized a Vietnamese fishing boat along with five crew members for illegally harvesting sea cucumbers in Thai territorial waters, 77 km east of Sichon District, Nakhon Si Thammarat, near Koh Kra. The boat was escorted to the Songkhla Naval Base for further legal action.
Vice Admiral Nares Wongtrakool, Commander of the 2nd Naval Area Command, stated that the operation was initiated after a tip-off regarding foreign vessels conducting illegal fishing near Koh Kra. Despite attempts to flee, the vessel was apprehended with cooperation from the Department of Fisheries, Marine Police, and local authorities.
This marks the first seizure of a Vietnamese fishing vessel in 2025. The crew faces charges under three laws:
- Fisheries Act 2015: Conducting commercial fishing in Thai waters without authorization.
- Act on Thai Maritime Fishing Rights 1939: Operating as an unregistered vessel in Thai waters.
- Immigration Act 1979: Entering the country illegally.
Vice Admiral Nares emphasized the destructive nature of sea cucumber dredging, which damages seabed ecosystems and coral reefs. Last year, 15 Vietnamese fishing boats were seized, each capable of harvesting 15–20 tons of sea cucumbers per trip, with a market value of THB 300–500 per kilogram. The Thai Navy and related agencies have protected national marine resources, preserving an estimated THB 150 million annually.