Gulf of Thailand closed to commercial fishing until mid-June
No commercial fishing will be allowed in the Gulf of Thailand until mid-June in a bid to rebuild resources, Mesak Pakdeekong, chief of the Fisheries Department, said on Monday.
The areas off the coast of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani will be blocked for 90 days from next Monday to May 15, and then from the foot of Khao Ta Mong Lai mountain to Hua Hin for 30 days from May 16 to June 14. Data collected from samples of mackerel shows that the fish is mature and ready to breed in the area between Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani for 90 from mid-February.
Then from mid-May to mid-June, young mackerel travel to the Khao Ta Mong Lai and Hua Hin area to grow.
Officials said the gulf is not blocked to all fishing activity, adding that villagers are allowed to catch fish, provided their boats are less than 10 gross tonnage in size and engines less than 280 horsepower.
He has called on people to follow the department’s regulations and keep in mind that everyone has to help ensure the country’s marine resources remain plentiful.
Violators will face a fine of between Bt5,000 and Bt30 million based on the size of the fishing vessel.