Monday, April 21, 2008   Tuna fishing ban in Phang Nga Bay

According to the yesterday announced ban, from April 15 to June 15 all fishermen trawling the sea floor or trawling using nets with meshing smaller than 4.7 centimeters across are banned from fishing in the area from Laem Sak at Ao Leuk, Krabi to the north end of Koh Yao Noi to the southern tip of Koh Yao Yai and back to Laem Sak and in the area from the southern end of Koh Yao Yai to halfway to Koh Bidah Nok to the southern end of Koh Lanta Yai to offshore from Klongthom District in Krabi.

The new fishing ban around Phang Nga Bay coincides with the twice-yearly spawning period of many Andaman fish species, especially tuna. The Fisheries Department found that tuna spawn in protected areas from December through March and from June through August each year, so the ban will be effective only for part of this period.

The area covered is very large, more than 2,000 square kilometers, and officials themselves have voiced that it will be very difficult to actually police in reality. Also the maximum fines of only THB 10,000 (or up to one year in prison, or both) do not really serve as a deterrent for anybody.