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 bycatch management” (REBYC‐II CTI; GCP /RAS/269/GFF). Thailand by the Department of Fisheries, Marine Fisheries Research and Development Bureau is implementing the project at two sites in the Gulf of Thailand. At Prachuab Kiri Khan and Chumphon the focus is on the implementation of enlarged mesh sizes in trawl cod‐ends. The Central Gulf Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center (CMDEC), located in Chumphon is taking the lead on this research. The second site is in Trad province and focuses on the implementation of 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 is taking the lead for this research. Results from studies carried out under the REBYC‐II CTI Project have already been presented to local stakeholders in Prachaub Kiri Khan and Chumphon provinces. Now the DOF would like to hear the ideas and opinions of local fishers in other areas of the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The public hearing is an important step in helping the DOF to develop more effective approaches to trawl fisheries and bycatch management.

Supongpan, M., Petgamnerd, J., & Tochua, S. (2015). Public Hearing on“Trawl fisheries and bycatch Management”. Training Department, Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center.