Thai Gulf closure during spawning season

BANGKOK, February 14 (TNA) - The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives has announced a three-month closure of the Gulf of Thailand for the annual spawning season, from February 15-May 15, 2013, during which some fishing methods affecting breeding of marine lives are totally banned. Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Siriwat Kachornprasart told reporters on Thursday, after presiding over a ceremony to declare the temporary closure of the Gulf of Thailand, that the ban covers some 26,400 square kilometres of sea parts in three southern coastal provinces of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani. According to the deputy minister, official statistics found that the population of marine species in the protected Thai areas increased by 2.34 times after the three-month fishing ban last year, with mackerel particularly increased by up to at least 60,000 tonnes. The deputy minister pointed out if the marine lives in the areas are allowed to grow during the annual spawning period, local fishermen can secure stable income and fish supplies remain sufficient for market demand; while the Thai marine lives are conserved on a sustainable basis. (TNA)