The Fisheries Department is preparing to announce an annual temporary closure on a section of the Gulf of Thailand in an effort to revive its ecological environment.
The closure will be imposed between February 15th and May 15th in areas off the coasts of Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani provinces in order to conserve and revive the local ecological environment as well as increase the population of marine life in the Gulf of Thailand as the period coincides with the spawning and nursery season.
According to Director-General of the Fisheries Department Jumphon Sanguansin, the department will concurrently ban the use of some types of fishing equipment in the gulf.
He stressed the importance of protecting certain fish species, particularly mackerel which is considered vital to the country’s economy and needs extra care for its continued survival in the Gulf of Thailand.
The annual closure is a collaborative effort of six agencies, namely the Fisheries Department, the Royal Thai Navy, the Marine Police Division, the Marine Department, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and the Customs Department.
Its prime objective is to keep a close watch on fishery operators and prevent law violations in accordance with the government’s policy against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Any violators found engaging in fishing activities during the gulf closure will be subject to a fine of 5,000-10,000 baht or imprisonment of up to one year or both.
