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Tide turns against shellfish farmers in ‘cockle wars’

Tide turns against shellfish farmers in ‘cockle wars’

Thailand’s long-running “cockle wars” may be nearing an end after shellfish farmers began dismantling their wooden platforms in Surat Thani’s Bandon Bay on Wednesday (September 2).

Tide turns against shellfish farmers in ‘cockle wars’

The move was ordered by the Maritime Enforcement Command Centre 2 after months of clashes between the farmers and local fishermen over the right to harvest cockles (hoi kraeng).

In June, the Navy sent boats to monitor the area over fears that tension between the two sides could lead to serious violence.

Tide turns against shellfish farmers in ‘cockle wars’

However, farmers hit back at the encroachment charge today, filing evidence in their defence at the command centre office. The farmers say they have invested millions of baht in their sea farms and will not give up without a fight.

This is the second day that the command centre has overseen the operation to remove their wooden structures.

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