Distressed anchovy fishermen, families on Koh Yao Yai island protest coastal fishing ban

Darawan Naknakhon

PHANG NGA: Some 300 villagers yesterday afternoon (May 6) gathered in protest in the area of Laem Mai Pier, located in Moo 7 of Koh Yao Yai’s Phru Nai sub district, seeking the government reconsider a ban on coastal fishing using large vessels.

Speaking on behalf of the villagers at about 3.30pm, Mr Tiwakorn Thongkerd, president of the “Midday Anchovies Fishing [using] Surrounding Net” group of Koh Yao Yai said that the ban has seriously affected livelihoods of families depending on harvests from more than 30 vessels, and has had a negative snowball effect on the local economy, affecting hundreds of households.

The ban – which has been effective for about one month now and restricts fishing utilizing vessels weighing 10 or more gross tonnes to operate within three nautical miles of the island – is part of government measures aimed at curbing overfishing, as well as clamping down on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.

“Anchovies are a key part of the entire fishing system that is directly linked to other types of fishing, and many families here depend on it. Most of the anchovies are found within three kilometres of shore,” said Mr Tiwakorn.

“Sure, there are some anchovies beyond that, but not many, and it becomes too expensive for us to fish so far off shore,” he added, noting that expense was also the reason why fishermen need to use larger vessels.

Full story: http://www.thephuketnews.com/distressed-anchovy-fishermen-families-on-koh-yao-yai-island-protest-coastal-fishing-ban-57336.php

-- Phuket News 2016-05-07

Anchovy fisherman? That's got to be a hard living catching all those tiny anchovies. I wonder what size hook they use?

Live for today and despair tomorrow seems like the whole business system here is in self destruct mode.

“Anchovies are a key part of the entire fishing system that is directly linked to other types of fishing, and many families here depend on it. Most of the anchovies are found within three kilometres of shore,” said Mr Tiwakorn.

Please allow me to correct and expand that statement so even ignorant people like Mr Tiwakorn and his ilk can understand what irreversible damage they have already caused:

Anchovies are a key part of the entire fishing marine eco system that and over-fishing of anchovies using large vessels in coastal waters is directly linked to a serious depletion of other types of fishing fish stocks, and many families here who depend on it fishing will have nothing to fish left if you guys don't shape up and care for the replenishment of fish stocks more than your short-term economical concerns. Most of the anchovies are you previously may have found within three kilometres of shore are already gone.

Anchovy fisherman? That's got to be a hard living catching all those tiny anchovies. I wonder what size hook they use?

"hook".? Try reading the OP again.

So the ban is working, excellent.

joebrown: I was making funny (obviously not successfully)

joebrown: I was making funny (obviously not successfully)

I got it if no one else did

No anchovies - expect the price of fish sauce to rise.

Did anyone think that preserving fish stocks would not result in hardship for fishermen?

But less so than not preserving fish stocks.

These fishermen need Government assistance but it is to find another source of income, not continue destructive short term fishing techniques.

On a night flight over the gulf of Thailand, the sea is carpeted with the bright lights of squid fishing boats. It is hard to see how that is sustainable night after night, day after day. The equation; less fish + bigger boats with more technology = collapse of marine ecosystems has been proved in many fisheries world wide.

You reap what you sow. Thailand ( and other countries) have been warned for years about over fishing, fish and prawn farms, and use of slave labour. As they have never in the past done anything to restrict the situation, now the heavy hand is coming down. Many Thai seafood products have now been banned in the EU and the rest of the world. This is the outcome of " us first" attitude and not abiding by law. In today's world, you just cannot do whatever you want, and that's a good thing.

Normal thinking..."I want my special considerations and don't care what the end result will be for others" Have any of you pretards thought about WHY there are no fish around? Maybe because of years of raping the ocean near shore? They all want today and don't care about tomorrow "Give a man a fish....." here the thinking is "give me a fish today I don't care about tomorrow. ..."

One of the problems is they catch ALL the small young fish, not just the anchovies

& do not bother to separate & put back, result barren seas