Fishermen call on Surat Thani authorities to solve cockle war

By THE NATION

 

 

Some 30 boats were used to block access to Bandon Bay in Surat Thani on Friday (June 12) after officials announced a temporary ban on the harvesting of cockles or hoi kraeng, also known as blood clams.

 

Fishermen are calling on the authorities to come up with guidelines on exactly where small fishermen can harvest the shellfish.

 

The row between local fishermen and shellfish farmers over a fishing area extending from Tapee and Phunphin rivers in Surat Thani’s Phunphin district was sparked earlier this week, when farmers claimed the fishermen were harvesting shellfish on their property.

 

The farmers filed police complaints, claiming the cockles being farmed were not natural resources but a fruit of their investment.

 

The disagreement escalated, resulting in officials announcing a temporary ban on fishing in the disputed area since Thursday. Local shellfish buyers have also been urged to temporarily suspend their trade until the matter is resolved, while more than 30 police officers and Navy marines were dispatched to monitor the situation.

 

Surat Thani governor Witchawut Jinto said he has assigned Colonel Wasakorn Sunthornnant, deputy director of the Surat Thani Maritime Information Sharing Centre, to negotiate with the contesting parties and believes the matter will be resolved soon.

 

“The blockcade only allows small boats from entering the bay. This standoff has not affected cargo ships, as most are now docked at the pier,” he added.

 

Source: https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30389524

 

-- © Copyright The Nation Thailand 2020-06-12

 

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Fishermen call on Surat Thani authorities to solve cockle war. 

 

The fisherman should  be able to fish there, al do they are a bit cheeky to get the cockles from the Illegal farms . The farms should be shut down or the Government could give the farmers  a License  for a Fee for a Certain area to be used for farming the cockles

 

Farmers, who have invested millions of baht setting up breeding facilities off the coast, have erected bamboo fences around the areas they illegally claim, with watch-huts on stilts, to keep out  the  fishermen, who claim the public right to harvest the profitable shellfish.

when reading the title I thought it were the Chinese coming to fish on Surat Thani waters