Andaman Sea closure from April to June to allow marine life to grow

[webfact]

Andaman Sea closure from April to June to allow marine life to grow

BANGKOK, 27 March 2015 (NNT)-The Department of Fisheries is set to announce a temporary closure of the fishing industry in areas of the Andaman Sea. The break will be from April to June to allow marine life to breed.

Director General of the Department of Fisheries Jumpol Sanguansin revealed that the closure will prevent fishing activities conducted from four provinces adjacent to the Andaman Sea. They are Phuket, Pang Nga, Krabi and Trang.

Mr. Jumpol explained that marine life would be protected from being caught commercially. It will be able to reproduce and nurture the young without human disturbance during this period.

The ban has regularly been enforced on the order of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives since October 2009. In some areas where minimal fishing is allowed, certain types of fishing will also be prohibited.

The marine closure covers an area of around 4,600 square kilometers of the Andaman Sea. A maximum fine of 10,000 baht and a jail term of 1 year will be applied to anyone violating the regulations.


-- NNT 2015-03-27

[hansgruber]

It's all fine and dandy but who will enforce these closures? Laws are only as good as the people upholding them.

[Thian]

It would also be wise to throw small babyfish back into the sea. Why do they end up on the markets?

[Costas2008]

It's all fine and dandy but who will enforce these closures? Laws are only as good as the people upholding them.

The Thais.....please read

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/190359-local-fishermen-help-catch-illegal-seine-net-trawlers-off-lanta/

[12DrinkMore]

It would also be wise to throw small babyfish back into the sea. Why do they end up on the markets?

Do you expect to that they would throw salable fish back into the water?

It is the "tragedy of the commons".

It is in the collective interest to manage to the resource, but the individuals only want to maximise the immediate personal gains.

[wabothai]

WE WILL HOLD YOU TO YOUR WORD. HAIL!!!

[Fat Haggis]

The problem with throwing undersize fish back is that are mostly eaten by sea birds, due to their swim bladders having expanded and full of air, having been taken from the depth of the trawl to the surface, taken out and exposed to the air, their chances of surviving after being caught are pretty slim unfortunately.

[hughben]

So it takes two months - three months for all marine life to replenish?

[NomadJoe]

Great, if they can enforce it. They have been talking about doing this for a while since it was so successful last year in the gulf.

The problem with throwing undersize fish back is that are mostly eaten by sea birds,...

What sea birds?

due to their swim bladders having expanded and full of air, having been taken from the depth of the trawl to the surface, taken out and exposed to the air, their chances of surviving after being caught are pretty slim unfortunately.

The trawlers around Phuket tend to concentrate around the shallow areas like the Sea of Phuket/Phangna Bay which is fairly shallow, 40-50m at most.

[Fat Haggis]

Joe,

40-50M ascending at speed is enough to cause the swim bladders to expand, the swim bladders act like buoyancy aids, it's one of the many reasons you always seen seabirds following trawlers after hauling up, not sure what sea birds there are around Thailand, but the birds are just one of many predators who will feed off the undersized fish.

come to think about it, I have to admit, I never really saw any seagulls off the Andaman when I was doing my PADI advanced,

a couple of years back..

good point!!

[Kaalle]

So I guess the coastguard is going to be making some extra money in the near future, and I don't mean from the fines.

[NomadJoe]

So I guess the coastguard is going to be making some extra money in the near future, and I don't mean from the fines.

There is no coastguard in Thailand. There is no regular on-water patrols of any kind in the Andaman.

But your point about the $$ is valid...a measly 10,000B fine will not discourage. As is often the case with fines in Thailand, they can elect to pre-pay the fine then continue with their illegal activity unimpeded.

[mojorison]

Crap. If they were serious (or wise) they'd have size restrictions on species, net restrictions - length and size of netting, proximity to reefs and shore etc etc....and a ban on taking females of some species, such as crabs. No females etc... but oh the roe is delicious. What's a turtle??

[h90]

It would also be wise to throw small babyfish back into the sea. Why do they end up on the markets?

Like in Europe, they throw them back....but dead already

[h90]

So I guess the coastguard is going to be making some extra money in the near future, and I don't mean from the fines.

There is no coastguard in Thailand. There is no regular on-water patrols of any kind in the Andaman.

But your point about the $$ is valid...a measly 10,000B fine will not discourage. As is often the case with fines in Thailand, they can elect to pre-pay the fine then continue with their illegal activity unimpeded.

There is a kind of marine police, once saw a boat of them got explained that this is the marine police. hardwired with satellite (TV) dish and water. But surely the boat still consumes a lot diesel. I think it was in Ranong

In Malaysia they made artificial reefs from the illegal fishing Thai boats. I think that fixed the problem.

[h90]

It's all fine and dandy but who will enforce these closures? Laws are only as good as the people upholding them.

It would be so easy to do......

make a joint group of navy and university.

Navy has the muscle, University has the brain.

Half the fees goes to the men on the vessel, half the fee goes to the Navy/University.

As it is an extra income and a chance to exercise the vessels and command is rotated (that minimize corruption and minimize the impact of corruption).

And it should count as protecting Thailand against an enemy (if you destroy the sea you damage Thailand).

[Wombat6]

So I guess the coastguard is going to be making some extra money in the near future, and I don't mean from the fines.

There is no coastguard in Thailand. There is no regular on-water patrols of any kind in the Andaman.

But your point about the $$ is valid...a measly 10,000B fine will not discourage. As is often the case with fines in Thailand, they can elect to pre-pay the fine then continue with their illegal activity unimpeded.

You are quite mistaken about water patrols in the Andaman. The Thai Navy have quite a presence off Ranong. Why make such statements that are totally wrong or are you just trying to increase your number of posts at any cost.