Prachuab Khiri Khan launches campaign on closure of Gulf of Thailand

[Lite Beer]

Prachuab Khiri Khan launches campaign on closure of Gulf of Thailand

PRACHUAB KHIRIKHAN, 13 February 2015 (NNT) -- The upper southern province of Prachuab Khiri Khan has launched a campaign to boost awareness among local fishermen, that fishing is prohibited during the temporary closure of the Gulf of Thailand.

The closure started on February 15th and will end on May 15th, and encompasses the coasts of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani provinces. The aim is to conserve and revive the local ecological environment as well as increase the abundance of marine life in the area.

On Friday, Prachuab Khiri Khan Governor, chiefs of provincial units, students and local fishermen together released one million black tiger shrimps into the Gulf, to increase the quantity of shrimps in the province's marine ecology.

The annual closure is a collaborative effort by six agencies: the Fisheries Department, the Royal Thai Navy, the Marine Police Division, the Marine Department, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and the Customs Department. Violators found engaging in fishing activities during the gulf closure will be subject to a fine of 5,000-10,000 baht, or imprisonment of up to one year or both.

-- NNT 2015-02-14

[trogers]

Only 3 months? If they are serious, the closure should be for 3 years.

[NCC1701A]

Better than nothing.

[flyingdoc]

It's a good start anyway!

[rametindallas]

How very forward thinking of them. I am pleasantly surprised.

[ratcatcher]

I think the massive and exorbitant fines will be a serious deterrent.

[NickJ]

Maybe the airports as well.......

[WhizBang]

3 months? Bah. WAY WAY too short. Maybe 5 years would see some revival of the marine life, but ONLY if anyone caught doing illegal fishing was very heavily fined. No enforcement means no law.

[rabid old goat]

On Friday, Prachuab Khiri Khan Governor, chiefs of provincial units, students and local fishermen together released one million black tiger shrimps into the Gulf

all the juvenile trash fish in the region have asked me personally to convey their deepest appreciation.

[angiolo]

On Hampshire chalk streams we have a no fishing period during the trout breeding season. would this apply in the \gulf ?

[bangrak]

When it's 'enforced' like in the previous years, with the sea illuminated as the JFK runways by the fishermen's lamps, and no naval police, nor navy to see...

In front of our house it's a permanent no-fishing zone, beginning of the week we had a navy escorter there for 2 days, result, not one single fishing boat, the next night two, not 200m. from shore, the following night twenty, today...?

When mankind is nature's biggest enemy, the Thais, for once, are very high on the ladder of mankind...

[ratcatcher]

On Hampshire chalk streams we have a no fishing period during the trout breeding season. would this apply in the \gulf ?

That's a different kettle of fish. There are no trout streams here and secondly as other posters have remarked, when the navy is on watch the fishboats are nowhere to be seen. No patrol, and the fishboats are back like flies on fresh dung.

In Thai culture, my wife tells me, there is no tomorrow. It is always today. Live for today, fish for today.

[oldsailor35]

So where do all the fishing boats who are unloading their catch at Naton Piers get their fish from.

[h90]

Only 3 months? If they are serious, the closure should be for 3 years.

If they REALLY do it 3 month it will be better than not doing it 3 years.

Last time I looked outside in Chumphun at night and all was full with lighted fisherboats. Dove their in a protected Nation Park area and a fresh net was on the rocks (so double forbidden, time + area).

And the net had very close holes, fishing out everything larger than a guppy made from Nylon which won't rot.....

So important is not the time, important is that it is really done.

[anon4546543]

I think West Australia has serious penalties for unauthorised fishing for fresh and seafood produce. For amateur and professional illegal fishing, this can result in huge fines as well as confiscation of all angling products including vehicles if these were used in the illegal activity. If the fine cannot be paid, you may lose your house to pay the fine.

[Ducking and]

Two basic principles mean this will not have any effect. 1. Thais do what they want to do. That is accepted. If his driving is fretting you even worrying you, or possibly endangering you, do not fret, take it easy. "He is doing that because he wants to", your GF will tell you. 2. Thais are masters at doing unlawful things whenever they won't get caught.

Live with it. This is Thailand. One day they will certainly have totally wrecked this beautiful country OF THEIRS. It's theirs, they tell us. Quite rightly, I suppose. Brits and other Anglo-Saxons should do the same, except they don't seem to be able to do it with the same disingenuous winning smile as the Thais do. Other Westerners might try.

[AleG]

Two basic principles mean this will not have any effect. 1. Thais do what they want to do. That is accepted. If his driving is fretting you even worrying you, or possibly endangering you, do not fret, take it easy. "He is doing that because he wants to", your GF will tell you. 2. Thais are masters at doing unlawful things whenever they won't get caught.

Live with it. This is Thailand. One day they will certainly have totally wrecked this beautiful country OF THEIRS. It's theirs, they tell us. Quite rightly, I suppose. Brits and other Anglo-Saxons should do the same, except they don't seem to be able to do it with the same disingenuous winning smile as the Thais do. Other Westerners might try.

They did the same last year and it had a large effect:

The fisheries ban was in effect from June 1 to July 31. The two-month ban has already begun to pay off; fishermen are now making an average catch of 18 kilograms per hour, compared to the usual rate of 13 kilograms per hour before the ban took effect. Currently, around 10,000 mackerels are being caught per day.

This compared very favorably to the 2,000 mackerels caught per day before the 'closure' of the Gulf. The size of the fish has also increased. According to Mr. Niwat, other marine catches have also increased in quantity and in size.

Some people just need to bash I guess.

[khunsiam]

So where do all the fishing boats who are unloading their catch at Naton Piers get their fish from.

nothing ever changes in Samui

[rabid old goat]

Two basic principles mean this will not have any effect. 1. Thais do what they want to do. That is accepted. If his driving is fretting you even worrying you, or possibly endangering you, do not fret, take it easy. "He is doing that because he wants to", your GF will tell you. 2. Thais are masters at doing unlawful things whenever they won't get caught.

Live with it. This is Thailand. One day they will certainly have totally wrecked this beautiful country OF THEIRS. It's theirs, they tell us. Quite rightly, I suppose. Brits and other Anglo-Saxons should do the same, except they don't seem to be able to do it with the same disingenuous winning smile as the Thais do. Other Westerners might try.

They did the same last year and it had a large effect:

The fisheries ban was in effect from June 1 to July 31. The two-month ban has already begun to pay off; fishermen are now making an average catch of 18 kilograms per hour, compared to the usual rate of 13 kilograms per hour before the ban took effect. Currently, around 10,000 mackerels are being caught per day.

This compared very favorably to the 2,000 mackerels caught per day before the 'closure' of the Gulf. The size of the fish has also increased. According to Mr. Niwat, other marine catches have also increased in quantity and in size.

Some people just need to bash I guess.

if you fudge the stats sufficiently you can even prove the moon is made of green cheese