ID :
373551
Mon, 07/06/2015 - 11:10
Auther :

Seafood shortages reported in some Thai areas

THAI SOUTH, July 6 (TNA) - The Thai government's strict control on fishing boats has caused seafood shortage in some areas, but a fishing association sees a bright prospect of marine resources. In the southern Phang-nga Province, a large number of illegal fishing boats have still been moored, while local traders said seafood has been unavailable for days and local restaurants have closed temporarily. In nearby Krabi Province, the president of the provincial fishing association expressed support for the Thai government’s suppression of illegal fishing boats because it has stopped the use of highly destructive fishing equipment like push nets, trawl nets and purse seines, assessing that there should not be any serious impact on seafood prices because many legal fishing boats have continued their businesses and small fishermen have better life. In Ranong Province, also in the Thai South, there are 128 legal fishing boats of, at least, the 30 gross ton size and there are 221 illegal boats, while marine officials require fishing operators to use legal fishing equipment only and the authorities refuse to issue licences for migrant fishing boat captains, steersmen and mechanics, who are mostly Myanmar. Meanwhile, staff of the Marine Department, under the Thai Ministry of Transport, are operating mobile units to quickly register fishing boats and issue licences to those with legal equipment and personnel on July 6-7. (TNA)

X