Thailand’s Fisheries Department has decided to impose a fishing ban, effective 15 February, in parts of the Gulf of Thailand, Thailand Today has reported.
The annual closure will last three months till 15 May this year and covers an area of 26,400 square kilometers spanning three coastal provinces, including Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani, Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister Narapat Kaewthong according to the publication.
The ban restricts the use of certain types of fishing equipment in order to conserve and protect fish stocks, particularly mackerel, during spawning season. Violators will be subject to fines of between THB 5,000 (USD 160, EUR 148) and THB 30 million (USD 960,000, EUR 887,000) depending on the fishing equipment types they use and the output they illegally catch.
After 15 May, a special zone, which is seven nautical miles away from shore, will also be closed in 30 days to protect young fish.
Local fishermen will not be affected much by the ban, Director-General of the fisheries department Meesak Pakdeekong said, adding that the output that fishing trawlers caught last year rose after 2019’s ban ended, CTN News reported.
The closure last year took place from June to September off the coast of eight provinces.
Small mackerel in the Gulf of Thailand often swims to the gulf’s upper part, therefore the fishing ban is applied in the area to let the young fish grow into spawning age. The fish then travel to the central part of the gulf to begin their spawning season the following February.
Around 10,000 commercial fishing vessels – having a gross size of 10 tons or with 280 horsepower engines and above – operating in Thai waters have been asked to apply for commercial fishing permits for the new fishing year before the end of February. The authorities expect to issue the permits in the first half of March.
About 53,000 traditional fishing vessels in Thailand are not required to obtain permits.
Photo courtesy of Jutinan Jujinda/Shutterstock
