Protesting anchovy fishermen used their vessels to completely block the Pak Bara waterway in Thailand’s southernmost province of Satun today, to apply pressure on the authorities to meet their demand to ease restrictions on the use of their nets to catch anchovies in coastal waters.

Police, local community leaders and security officials had been trying to talk the protesting fishermen out of completely blocking the waterway, claiming that the drastic measure will hurt other working people and tourism, as tourist boats will not be able to travel to Lipe Island, a popular destination in the province.

The fishermen have been partially blocking the waterway for six days but, today, they decided to impose full a blockade to increase pressure on the authorities.

The protesters have been demanding that the Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Cooperatives review the restriction on fishing gear on anchovy fishing boats.

Three vessels, together with 12 crew, were recently apprehended by the authorities for using the banned nets. The action sparked the protest by the fishermen.