Fishermen in Rayong to sue PTTGC for Bt300 million

[Lite Beer]

Fishermen in Rayong to sue PTTGC for Bt300 million
The Nation

RAYONG: -- Officials say seawater in the area is clear; fishermen say catches are down

Seawater along the Koh Samet and Rayong coast is normal and clear with no trace of oil, Supoj Towijakchaikul, deputy permanent secretary for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, told a press conference yesterday - the first anniversary of last year's oil spill in that part of the Gulf.

Wichien Jungrungruang, director-general of the Department of Pollution Control, said mercury and another heavy metal had been detected on Samet beaches but they were within a safe level.

Coral bleaching caused by the spill had reduced to only 10 per cent. A surge in bleaching in April was caused by a seasonal increase in seawater temperature, Wichien said, not the oil spill.

Meanwhile, a group of fishermen in Rayong decided yesterday to file individual civil lawsuits against PTT Global Chemical Plc, demanding a total of Bt300 million in compensation for damage caused by the oil spill. They claim it affected their way of life and capacity to earn a living.

Another group of fishermen gathered outside the Provincial Administrative Court yesterday to check on the progress of PTTGC's environmental restoration efforts.

A leader of the group, Sutharak Kijthawee, said pre-spill conditions had not been reinstated despite restoration efforts and PTTGC paying Bt30,000 each to some 455 fishermen.

Civil lawsuits will be filed individually at Rayong Provincial Court once the necessary documents were completed, he said.

Yesterday's meeting, led by a group of small-scale fishermen based in Muang district, heard how the marine environment deteriorated and this had led to a decrease in catches and a subsequent drop in their income.

A similar meeting was held on Thursday, although provincial officials largely avoided the gathering despite receiving an invitation to attend.

Only one senior environment official attended the event and was briefed on the latest updates.

Another leader of the fishermen, Lamom Bunyong, said problems had not been fully dealt with and National Human Rights Commission lawyers would soon file lawsuits against either PTTGC or relevant state agencies - the Pollution Control, Marine, Fisheries, and Coastal Resources departments.

Lamom said a lawsuit might also be filed against the Rayong governor because he was duty-bound to uphold the law and protect people from pollution and the affects of an oil spill.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Fishermen-in-Rayong-to-sue-PTTGC-for-Bt300-million-30239513.html

-- The Nation 2014-07-26

[impulse]

I'm not against holding PTT accountable, but I'd suggest the fishermen may want to consider that their overfishing is the reason that catches are down.

[RBOP]

If you stay at any high-rise along Rayong coastline, at night the sea is literally "a sea of lights" from thousands of fishing boats. I'd say over fishing is the real cause of fish stocks declining. I believe these fish gangs run by thugs are just out for quick buck and being supported by NGO thugs who get kick backs.

Edited July 26, 2014 by RBOP

[lostsoul49]

Since the bunch of 7 hoteliers have put their hands out for 350 million ( a joke) the fishermen are merely jumping on the gravy train.

They should provide 100% solid proof.

[SABloke]

If you stay at any high-rise along Rayong coastline, at night the sea is literally "a sea of lights" from thousands of fishing boats. I'd say over fishing is the real cause of fish stocks declining. I believe these fish gangs run by thugs are just out for quick buck and being supported by NGO thugs who get kick backs.

I always see the fishing boats from the beach - all the way from Petchaburi to Surat (and I'm sure further south), but I was shocked when I took a night flight a few months back along the coast. There were thousands of boats all the way to the horizon and there was not a single stretch of ocean (Surat to BKK) that did not have boats every 100m or so

[Lite Beer]

Sea around Samet safe; beach ecosystems on course for recovery

RAYONG, 26 July 2014 (NNT) – The quality of sea water around Samet Island off the coast of Rayong has been confirmed to be within the acceptable standard, and the beach ecosystem is on course for recovering to normalcy.

Suphot Towichakchaikun, deputy permanent-secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment and Wichien Chungrungrueang, director-general of the Department of Pollution Control, yesterday deliberated the overall situation of the area around the oil spill off the coast of Rayong in July of last year. According to the officials, no more oil slick was present around the spill area. They said that although the planned restoration of the coral reefs and beach ecosystems in the area would take five years to complete, the situation has returned to normal and visitors to Samet and Rayong may enjoy swimming in the sea without worries.

The officials indicate that although there will be some contaminants present at certain sites, the concentration would not exceed the acceptable level, nor would it pose health hazards.

-- NNT 2014-07-26

[seajae]

this is a total joke, the fishermen have been raping the ocean(including marine parks) for years and take everything no matter the size or whether or not it is a protected species then suddenly claim they are losing their lively hood. Maybe if they didnt simply take everything and left some breeding stock it would improve but they simply dont care, this is just a way to get money for nothing and they are well aware that it is a hell of a lot more than what they would have made. Have to agree that PTT should have to pay millions to the govt in fines etc though and reimburse those who honestly lost out due to the spill but not these imaginary figures

[impulse]

Greenpeace for the opposing view(s):

http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/Press-Centre/publications/OCEANS-IN-THE-BALANCE-THAILAND-IN-FOCUS/

http://www.greenpeace.org/seasia/news/In-South-Thailand-No-fish-no-future/

[khunken]

this is a total joke, the fishermen have been raping the ocean(including marine parks) for years and take everything no matter the size or whether or not it is a protected species then suddenly claim they are losing their lively hood. Maybe if they didnt simply take everything and left some breeding stock it would improve but they simply dont care, this is just a way to get money for nothing and they are well aware that it is a hell of a lot more than what they would have made. Have to agree that PTT should have to pay millions to the govt in fines etc though and reimburse those who honestly lost out due to the spill but not these imaginary figures

If you read the Op properly maybe you wouldn't be so quick to get on your high horse.

Around Thailand's coastline there are basically two different groups of fishermen. The first is the large-trawler groups who are the ones responsible for over-fishing and the crime of fishing inside a limited area reserved for small-scale fishermen. The second is the small-scale fishermen who tend to catch a lot less and is a much less damaging way (no bottom trawling for example).

Now it's not totally clear from the Op but there is at least one group of small-scale fishermen involved and, given that much of the damage from the PTT spill was close to the coastline, have suffered and are very much entitled to claim damages. Damage claims are always 'too high' because they are usually whittled down to a more realistic figure.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

These people must be the world’s greediest fishermen, using forced slave labor, polluting the sea with all kinds of shit and ignoring all fishing laws and regulations and on top of this now they want to sue PTT, a company owned by the people of Thailand. Greenpeace should open their eyes for what is going on here and put these people out of business.

[VINCENT2012]

this is a total joke, the fishermen have been raping the ocean(including marine parks) for years and take everything no matter the size or whether or not it is a protected species then suddenly claim they are losing their lively hood. Maybe if they didnt simply take everything and left some breeding stock it would improve but they simply dont care, this is just a way to get money for nothing and they are well aware that it is a hell of a lot more than what they would have made. Have to agree that PTT should have to pay millions to the govt in fines etc though and reimburse those who honestly lost out due to the spill but not these imaginary figures

yes sir....it is a shame but it is a fact .....thais should travel to europe to see how we protect the wild life

[Loles]

And do they give 299,99 M Baht if they win to the slavers who are worked by themself ??? No ? Ohhhh ....

AND they are the biggest (greedy) robbers against poor ocean.

Edited July 26, 2014 by Loles

[pchansmorn]

They should open there eye's and see how other countries deal with this problem. It's always only about the money. The fisherman that have forced labor on there boats should be forced out of business completely with out any regard. There should be a way to in force the laws, someone you can trust not to take Bribes.

[Nobbie49]

They should open there eye's and see how other countries deal with this problem. It's always only about the money. The fisherman that have forced labor on there boats should be forced out of business completely with out any regard. There should be a way to in force the laws, someone you can trust not to take Bribes.

Please please do something about your grammar, it is just too painful to read.

[SteveH]

I have a friend who is a local fisherman near Rayong, he is part of a crew of about 8 men that go out in a small open top boat everyday they earn about 300-500 baht a day if they a lucky. The problem after the oil spill was not so much that they weren't catching fish, it was that nobody wanted to buy them in case they were contaminated. Therefore what they could sell was at a lot lower price than before the spill.

It became so bad for a while after the spill that they had to stop fishing and therefore no income.

I would say that they have a justified claim !