Krabi Fishermen Return To Waters

Krabi fishermen return to waters

KRABI: -- A steady trickle of fishing vessels entered the seas off the coast of Krabi today following the government’s decision to reduce the price of ‘purple’ fuel by Bt2 a litre.

Although many fishermen have grumbled that the subsidies have come too little and too late, the head of the Krabi Fisheries Association said today that fishermen in the southern province were taking to the waters again to determine whether or not it was worthwhile them going fishing with the new fuel prices.

Mr. Manit Damkul warned however that fishermen would submit a further petition to the government if the lower fuel prices failed to alleviate their plight.

The government has announced a Bt2 per litre reduction on the price of ‘purple’ fuel from today onwards, with the lower prices in place for the next three months or until the price of fisheries products improves.

Today Mr. Sithi Boonyaratphalin, director-general of the Fisheries Department, said that the subsidy would be cut to Bt1 per litre after three months if the situation seemed to be getting better.

Thousands of fishermen have moored their boats recently in protest against soaring oil prices and the slump in the price of fisheries products, warning that without government intervention they will not be able to survive.

--TNA 2005-04-15