Thailand: National Report Bycatch Management in Trawl Fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand

Abstract

The report is synthesized and reviewed background of the trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand using existing primary and secondary data sources and scientific reports. It covers fishery biology, fishing ground, species and sizes caught, geographic area, fishing capacity, fishing effort, fish production, fish distribution, fishing gear and method, exploitation state, fish stock assessment, conflicts in fisheries, season and area closure, legal framework and institutional arrangement, production and value trend for demersal and trash fish, market and utilization, employment, fishing rent and other social economic issues. The fish stocks especially for demersal resources in the Gulf of Thailand are already overexploited. These resources are caught mainly by trawl gear which comprises trash fish almost half of the landing catches. These trashfish are identified into about 35% of juvenile economic fish in trash fish component. The management of bycatch (trashfish) should be conducted in terms of scientific evidences with fisher and stakeholder participation in collaboration with relevant agencies. Future project plan activities are formulated to reduce juvenile economic fish, protect area for spawner and nursing ground as well as using VPS in monitoring illegal fishing around existing season and area closure. The experiment and demonstration of enlargement of cod end mesh size of trawl net, demonstration to install JTED in trawl net, Using VPS for monitoring and enforcement, closed area and closed season demarcated area, bycatch utilization management, office renovation and increase awareness and strengthening capacity in legal framework activities are all project plans for Thailand. Financial framework plan in term of co-finance of the Department of Fisheries and private sector (The Fisheries Association of Thailand) is formulated to request fund from GEF for implementing the seven activities for 4 years project to support bycatch management from trawl fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand.