Fishermen seek an end to their legal woes over national park

By THE NATION

 

File photo

 

LOCAL FISHERMEN are demanding measures to ease their woes over the legal problems they face when they accidentally drift too close to Tarutao National Park.

 

By law, fishermen must be at least three nautical miles away from the park’s compound. 

 

However, established in 1974, Tarutao National Park in Satun province is younger in age than several local fishermen, some of whom find it difficult to strictly comply with this relatively new boundary rule. 

 

“We were here even before this area was declared a national park. So, don’t just come to gather our opinions. Let’s work on solutions too,” Arun Chuprasit, former president of the Satun Fishermen’s Association, said at a seminar yesterday. 

 

Senior state officials were also present at the seminar held at the Satun Provincial Hall, where a group of students from the King Prajadhipok’s Institute (KPI) had arrived to explore solutions to fishing problems at Tarutao National Park. 

 

Deputy Satun governor Wongsakorn Noonchukhan, who presided over the seminar, reckoned there had been frequent problems between local fishermen and officials when arrests are made.

 

“State officials have tried to be lenient. They start with warnings. But if the offence is repeated, legal action must be taken in the end,” Wongsakorn said. 

 

Dr Fahsai Samart, a representative of students in KPI’s certificate course on the promotion of a peaceful society, said her group will design solutions and present them for the government to consider. KPI is a government think tank. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30360348

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-12-14

41 minutes ago, webfact said:

accidentally drift too close

so they do not know where they are

Fishermen the world over have a hissy-fit the minute anything gets close to getting in the way of them vacuuming the ocean for all it's worth.

"However, established in 1974, Tarutao National Park in Satun province is younger in age than several local fishermen, some of whom find it difficult to strictly comply with this relatively new boundary rule."

 

What bearing does the age of the fishermen have to do with it? After 44 years they have difficulty strictly complying with the "relatively new" boundary rule? They must have alzheimer's disease. 

I'm guessing that new maps and lessons how to use them will not fix this. 

I would further suggest that even if the government went the extra mile and got them GPS units and trained them how to use them this also would fall short of the result the fishing folk are hoping for.

Simple, don't allow fishermen to leave port without a GPS unit.