As the project “Strategies for trawl fisheries by-catch management” (REBYC-II CTI; GCP/RAS/269/GFF) was concluding, it was found necessary that more primary stakeholder consultations need to be organised to disseminate results of the project and the knowledge about the status of small scale fisheries. The new laws concerning to small scale fishers, especially Royal Fisheries Ordinance 2559 (2015) which is concerned to small scale fisheries and fishers was to be disseminated. So for the benefit of the fishers and other stakeholders from the Andaman Sea side of Thailand, this conference was organized at Erawan Phang-Nga Hotel on 28-30 August 2016. This conference was specifically targeted at small scale fishers and the 72 participants comprised of small scale fishers, Government officials, experts, and secretariat staff.

On the Gulf of Thailand the first site of the project was in Prachuab Kiri Khan and Chumphon provinces where the enlarged mesh size codend for trawl fisheries was tried out and implemented. The second site was is in Trat Province, where the management measures for closed area and closed season were established to protect fish larvae and spawners. In Trat Province, DOF had conducted survey for fish larvae and spawner distribution in Ao Trat. In Prachup Kiri Khan – Chumphon provinces, CMDEC had conducted survey of trawl fisheries baseline, present trawl fisheries status, experiment to enlarge codend mesh for trawlers as well as socio-economic study of fishers along the sea coast of Prachaup Kiri Khan – Chumphon provinces.

The Royal Fisheries Ordinance B.E.2558 (2015) has focused specifications for small scale fishers. The zonations for fishing, gear specifications and prohibited gears in different sections were described . The importance of the national committee, provincial committee and local small scale fisheries committee were described.

Regarding the status of fisheries, it could be concluded that the internal problems were a) decreasing trend of the resources and environment deterioration, b) less fishing ground and limited catches, c) too many fishing boats, gears and diversification, d) poor integration and management among agencies e.g. boat license is under Harbor Department and fishing boat and gear license is under the Department of Fisheries, e) conflict on fishing ground between large scale and small scale fisheries. The external requirements were a) combating IUU fishing is serious issue for Thailand also to address the EU requirement, b) norms of IOTC for tuna catch quota, WCPFC, ILO for labor issues etc.

The representations from the people were mainly on the need of widely publicizing the various fisheries management measures and the changes. Alternate livelihoods options for those without licenses or where licenses are delayed were important. There is need of local specific mesh and gear regulations.

Supongpan, D., Aroonrojprapai, M., Department of Fisheries Thailand, & Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center. (2016). A Conference for Providing Knowledge on Status of Fisheries and Related New Laws. Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.