The marine fishing management committee has agreed to allow 1,200 fishing vessels to continue to fish in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea for another 20-50 days, effective January 1 to enable them to earn more revenue.
Bancha Sukkaew, director-general of the Fisheries Department, said today that the committee, chaired by Agriculture Minister Thammanat Prompao, has set the following guidelines:
- In the Gulf, surface fishing and bottom trawling can continue for 50 days, while anchovy fishing is limited to 30 day.
- In the Andaman Sea, bottom trawling is limited to 20 days, 30 days for surface fishing and 50 days for anchovy trawling.
Bancha said that all 1,200 fishing vessels allowed to fish have been through E-license process and they can start fishing immediately and continue to do so until the end of March, marking the end of the fishing season.
He said that the relaxation of fishing restrictions will help ease the hardships of fishermen and allow them to generate more income, estimated at about one billion baht.
He also maintains that the additional fishing had been discussed with all stakeholders and takes account of the rules contained in the illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing regulations.
