The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (“FAO”) and the Department of Fisheries, Thailand has signed the Letter of Agreement (LOA) for the execution of the GEF supported project “Strategies for trawl fisheries by‐catch management” (REBYC‐II CTI; GCP /RAS/269/GFF). Thailand by the Department of Fisheries, Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division is implementing the project at two sites. Prachuab Kiri Khan and Chumphon is the first site and and focuses on the enlargement of mesh size codends for trawl fisheries. The Central Gulf Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center (CMDEC), located in Chumphon leads research on these experiments. The second site is in Trad province, and focuses on management measures for closed areas and closed seasons to protect fish larvae and spawners. The Eastern Marine Fisheries Research and Development (EMDEC), located in Rayong province takes the lead in this research works. In this connection, the Marine Fisheries Research Development Division under the DOF wanted to present the results of the REBYC project studies which related to area and season Closure in Ao Trat. I.e. the Trat trawl fisheries situation; fish larvae identify and distribution, Social economic studies, fisheries law and legal review. Based on discussion around these presentations management measures for Ao Trat will be proposed. Findings from these studies have already been shown to local stakeholders in Ao Trat at four meetings. Now, the DOF seeks wider opinions from the Advisory Committee to consult, consider and comment on the proposed management measures for Ao Trat. Their comments and recommendations will be useful to further develop management measures for spatial and seasonal closure of Ao Trat, as a conservation area for fish larvae and spanners, including some rare species.

Supongpan, M., & Sinanan, T. (2016). Advisory Committee Meeting Area and Season Closure in Ao Trat, Trat Province. Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center