November 28, 2003

Thailand To Impose Cap On Commercial Fishing Boats To Prevent Further Fisheries Depletion

The Thai government will impose a cap on the number of commercial fishing boats to prevent further depletion of fishing resources.

Fishermen will also be encouraged to try their luck on the high seas, instead of relying on concessions to fish the marine resources of countries like Indonesia.

There were clearly too many fishing boats for the available catch, Deputy Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Newin Chidchob told a forum to resolve fisheries problems.

There were 4,000-5,000 medium-sized boats of 50-60 tons each fishing in Thailand waters, where the average catch had dropped to 27kg per hour from 293kg per hour in 1993.

For many years, Thai fishermen had been given concessions to 4,000 tons of fish yearly in the Indonesian exclusive economic zone, he said.

However, there were now about 1,500 boats exploiting Indonesia's South China Sea. Of those only 39 were registered with the Fisheries Department.

The rest were using fake licences, which had resulted in many Thai crewmen being arrested by Indonesian authorities.

"We can't keep pushing the limits of neighbouring countries to catch more fish,'' said Mr Newin. "We have to come up with a better plan because in the future as their resources wear down, they will become more protective of their fish stock.''

The deputy minister said the number of boats should be capped at 5,000. No more boats should be built except to replace wrecked vessels which already had proper licences.

Registration commences at the end of the year, and would help in joining the government's asset conversion programme.

Mr Newin urged fishermen to look into ventures in deep-water fishing on the high seas where there were no limits on the size of catches.

The Fisheries Department was studying the possibility of converting the medium-size fishing boats into deep-water trawlers with new equipment. The government would offer start-up loans for firms or groups of fishermen who were interested, he said.

Meanwhile, Thai authorities plan talks next month with Indonesian fisheries authorities on lowering annual fishing fees, opening up new water areas to Thai fishermen and expanding joint ventures between the two countries.

Prasant Silphiphat, chairman of National Fisheries Association, said a limit on the number of boats would be welcome by all fishing communities, since the competition had become too intense.

However, the maximum figure should be revised in 5-8 years to ensure it was realistic.

If the government were to promote deep-water fishing it would have to allow time for operators to adjust to the new methods and equipment.