Status of demersal fishery resources in the Gulf of Thailand

Data from trawl surveys (1961 - 95) and annual production statistics (1971 - 95) were used to examine the status of demersal fishery resources in the Gulf of Thailand. Analyses were focused on biomass trends, population parameters and exploitation rates of dominant species, and assessment of excess capacity from fishing effort and yield estimates. The results indicate by 1995, the trawlable biomass in the Gulf had declined to only about 8.2% of the biomass level in 1961. The substantial decline is true for major components (demersal fish and trash fish) and species groups (Nemipterus spp., Priacanthus spp., Saurida spp. and squids) comprising trawlable biomass. Estimates of exploitation rate (E) for 23 species indicate that most (particularly demersals) are over-fished. By 1995, 21 of the species had E values of 0.79 and higher. Analyses of standardized fishing effort and yield using the Fox model indicate that the 1995 fishing effort was about twice the level needed to harvest the maximum sustainable yield. Overall, the results illustrate that the resources are severely over-exploited. The excess demersal fishing effort is estimated to be about 50% of the number of registered boats in 1995.Fishery resources, Demersal fisherie, Fishery surveys, Biomass, Population density, Shrimp fisheries, Catch/effort, ISEW, Thailand Gulf,

Strategic review of the fishery situation in Thailand

Fisheries are an important source of animal protein for most of ThailandÆs population, particularly in provinces on or near the coast. Between 1978 and 1997 the per capita consumption of fish averaged 24 kg╖capita-1 annually. In 1995, about 535 210 people were involved in the fisheries sector and 44% of these were engaged in small scale marine capture fisheries. Since 1982, Thailand has faced problems with the development of marine capture fisheries and their over-exploitation which has increased fishery conflicts and disputes with neighboring countries. The Gulf of Thailand is the major fishing area of Thailand and in 1996, it contributed approximately 70% of the total marine catch in the country. The catch in the Gulf consisted of pelagic fish (33%), trash fish (32%), demersal fish (12%), squid and cuttlefish (6%), shrimps (5%), crabs (2%) and other fish (10%). However, demersal fish and some pelagic fish in the Gulf of Thailand have been over-exploited. This is due to a combination of factors including; increasing human population, increased pressure from Thai trawlers which have lost access to foreign fishing grounds after neighboring countries declared EEZs, development in fish processing techniques and increasing demand from animal feed producers that utilize trash fish. This paper provides a broad view of the fisheries situation in Thailand, focused mainly on the Gulf of Thailand. It covers aspects of the environment, the status of resources available, the socioeconomic situation, the existing framework for management and development, and also makes recommendations for government action to develop sustainable fisheries management. The main objectives proposed for improving fishery management are: (1) promote fishersÆ and fisher organizationsÆ participation in fishery development; (2) optimize fishery resources and their environment so as to be sustainable and equitable; (3) increase fishery products and stabilize fishersÆ and processorsÆ incomes; (4) progressively develop deep sea fisheries; (5) improve export competitiveness.Fishery resources, Catch/effort, Population characteristics, Coastal fisheries, Marine fisheries, Ecosystems, Economic benefits, Fishery industry, Capture fishery economics, Fish consumption, Fishery policy, Legislation, Fishery management, Demersal fisheries, Pelagic fisheries, Cephalopod fisheries, Socioeconomic aspects, Surveys, Marketing, Fishery organizations, Fishing gear, Cephalopod fisheries, Trade, ISEW, Thailand,

Stakeholder Consultation Meeting in Trat Province Results on The Fish Larvae Distribution in Trat for Management

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Department of Fisheries, Thailand has signed a 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. The Marine Fisheries Research and Development Bureau are implementing the project in two areas of the Gulf of Thailand. Prachuab Kiri Khan and Chumphon is the first site and the focus of the work is on the enlargement of codend mesh sizes for trawlers. The Central Gulf Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center (CMDEC), located in Chumphon is taking the lead research role for these experiments. The second site is in Trat province, where management measures for closed areas and closed seasons are being established to protect fish larvae and spawners. The Eastern Marine Fisheries Research and Development (EMDEC), located in Rayong province, is leading this work Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of commercial fish larvae is important when determining trawl fishing grounds and seasons. In this connection, the Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division under the DOF organized a stakeholder consultation to present the results of the fish larvae identification and distribution study in Ao Trat in order to raise awareness of these issues with fishers and fishing gear owners. At the same time DOF gathered stakeholder ideas, problems and assessed their willingness to cooperateinthe proposed Area and Season Closuresof Ao Trat aimed at more sustainable fisheries. Specific Objectives of the REBYC‐II CTI Project in Thailand under the 2nd LOA. • To present results from the fish larvaeidentification and distribution survey; • Discuss implications of the study on the Area/Seasonal Closures planned for Ao Trat; and • Agree on thearea and season to be closed and what types of fishing gear prohibite

Preliminary analysis of demersal fish assemblages in coastal waters of the Gulf of Thailand

The 1995 trawl data of the research vessels Pramong 2 and 9 in the Gulf of Thailand were analyzed using TWINSPAN and DCA. Four main station clusters were identified related to geographic location and depth. Two clusters are associated with shallow water areas and the other two clusters are found in deeper areas with water depths > 30 m. Temporal analysis indicates clustering of monthly data into wet and dry seasons. Examination of species abundance data indicates that the seasonality may not be very pronounced. However, this may be due to the degree of disaggregation used in sorting the trawl survey samples.Fishery resources, Demersal fisheries, Fishery surveys, Biomass, Population density, Shrimp fisheries, Catch/effort, Trawling, Population characteristics, ISEW, Thailand Gulf,

Trophic model of the coastal fisheries ecosystem in the Gulf of Thailand

The biomass of 40 ecological groups, the diet composition of prey and predators, production/biomass (P/B) and consumption/biomass (Q/B) ratios, and catches were used as basic input to parameterize an Ecopath model of the Gulf of Thailand. Following construction of a mass-balance ecosystem model, a time-dynamic simulation model (Ecosim) was used to simulate the impact of change in fishing effort. This was done using time series data to validate the historic fisheries development in the Gulf of Thailand prior to using the model for forward-looking simulations. The time series data used in the analyses were catch and effort data from research vessel trawl surveys and landings data for six groups of fishing gear operating in the Gulf during the period 1973 to 1993. The fish market price and fixed and variable costs of each fleet (as well as profit) were also used as input for the time-series simulations using Ecosim. The results depict changes in biomass and trophic interactions in time (Ecosim) and space (Ecospace). The model was also used to investigate management options or measures for the fisheries of the Gulf of Thailand. Recommendations for future studies using Ecopath with Ecosim are also presented.Fishery resources, Fishery surveys, Biomass, Population density, Shrimp fisheries, Catch/effort, Trawling, Mathematical models, Coastal fisheries, Marine fisheries, Ecosystems, ISEW, Thailand Gulf,

A Conference for Fisheries and New Laws Knowledge Provision for Small-Scale Fishers in Eastern and Upper Gulf of Thailand “Strategies for Trawl Fisheries By-Catch Management” (REBYC-II CTI; GCP/RAS/269/GFF) 24-26 August 2016 A-One the Royal Cruise Pattaya, Chonburi Province

A consultative meeting was held to disseminate information on small-scale fisheries and marine resource status in the Gulf of Thailand and the results of the REBYC-II CTI Project with regard to trawl mesh size modification and fish larvae surveys. The meeting served to inform fishers and other stakeholders also on the various definitions and relevant sections of the new Royal Fisheries Ordinance B.E. 2558, with regard to its emphasis on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, stakeholder participation through formation of committees, and recommendations on area closures and mesh size modification to reduce bycatch. A brainstorming session resulted in the drafting of recommendations regarding fishing boat number and effort regulation, licensing and enforcement

Assessment, Management and Future Directions for Coastal Fisheries in Asian Countries

Abstract The biomass of 40 ecological groups, the diet composition of prey and predators, production/biomass (P/B) and consumption/biomass (Q/B) ratios, and catches were used as basic input to parameterize an Ecopath model of the Gulf of Thailand. Following construction of a mass-balance ecosystem model, a time-dynamic simulation model (Ecosim) was used to simulate the impact of change in fishing effort. This was done using time series data to validate the historic fisheries development in the Gulf of Thailand prior to using the model for forward-looking simulations. The time series data used in the analyses were catch and effort data from research vessel trawl surveys and landings data for six groups of fishing gear operating in the Gulf during the period 1973 to 1993. The fish market price and fixed and variable costs of each fleet (as well as profit) were also used as input for the time-series simulations using Ecosim. The results depict changes in biomass and trophic interactions in time (Ecosim) and space (Ecospace). The model was also used to investigate management options or measures for the fisheries of the Gulf of Thailand. Recommendations for future studies using Ecopath with Ecosim are also presented

Round Table for High Senior Business Meeting “Trawl fisheries and Bycatch management”

Mr. Suchart Sangchan, Director of Andaman Sea Fisheries Research & Development Center (Phuket) provided a background of the REBYC‐II CTI Project and presented the results of the experiment on enlarged mesh size in the cod‐end. Mrs. Kulapa Boonchuwong, a DOF expert on fisheries economics provided an overview of Thailand’s fishmeal production including the strategic management of low‐value fish intended for use as fishmeal. In 2014, the total amount of trash fish in Thailand was around 347,566 MT; about 92% of which was caught by trawlers. About 8% came from the neighboring waters of Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia. The price of trash fish was around 7 Baht per kg. Raw material sources to make fishmeal were: trash fish from trawlers (35%), fish carcasses (35%) and tuna processing waste (30%). In 2014 the average fishmeal price was 34.67 Baht per kg. The total number of fishmeal plants in Thailand in 2014 was 86. Factories receiving GMP standard numbered 61, whilst 42 received both GMP and HACCP standards. The total amount of fishmeal exported in 2014 was 175,179 MT of which the destination countries were China (42.4%), Japan (19.5%), Vietnam (15.7%) and Indonesia (7.0%). Imports of fishmeal in 2014 totaled 21,390 MT, from Myanmar (48.7%), Vietnam (37.5%), Peru (2%), Denmark (3.0%) and Norway (1.5%). Mrs. Boonchuwong discussed the problems that will likely occur when implementing new mesh size regulations, noting that when the landings of trash fish will be reduced, less will be available for fishmeal production. The new IUU restriction measures will also have a negative effect on trawlers: trash fish handling and transportation needs to be improved to maintain better quality and high price. It was also pointed out that recent global economic crisis (fluctuations) have impacted on fish meal exports and imports Mrs. Boonchuwong proposed a strategy for trawl fishery management. This included the following points: o Laws and regulations on trawl cod‐end mesh sizes should be enforced strongly; o Increased areas for nursing grounds should be established; o Area and seasonal closures should be expanded; o Fish handling on board, at the pier and on land as well as transportation, should be developed and improved to produce good quality fish at a high price; and o Other sources of protein, such as soybean, should be considered for use in fishmeal production

Fishing Operation and Fisheries Surrounding the Artificial Reefs

The paper reveals the background of artificial reefs (ARs) installation in Thailand, materials used to make ARs, types of ARs, the research works before and after the installation of ARs, the fishing gears and methods that operated around the ARs areas. The introduction for data collection methods, types of fishing gears and effort suitable for fishing in ARs areas for fishery sustainable management and friendly to the environment. Consequently, the enhancing activities and community based fishery management approach are also mentioned

National Training Course “Essential‐Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management”

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). The overall goal of the Marine Fisheries Management Master plan, to manage marine fisheries is consistent with the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, leading to resource sustainability, reduced by‐catch and reduced impact to biodiversity and environment. This is planned under cooperation between public and private sectors, including the sharing of data and information by fishers. Cooperation between public and private sectors is important to be able to find the acceptable points and in joint problem solving. In 2003, FAO introduced the ecosystem approach to fisheries management (EAFM) which supports the planning and management of fisheries as multi‐purpose resources for all people and having no negative effects on the capacity of the next generation to follow similar livelihoods. The need to apply an ecosystem approach to capture fisheries management is now globally accepted and has been endorsed in international decision‐making; for example, at the Rio +20 conference in 2012. This approach represents a move away from fisheries management systems that focus only on the sustainable harvest of target species, towards systems and decision‐making processes that balance environmental well‐being with human and social well‐being, within improved governance frameworks. At present the Thai Department of Fisheries is encouraging local fishers to participate in and be more responsible for management of their coastal resources so that: People become more aware the importance of the interaction between natural resources and ecosystems; People have a wider perception about fishing ground resources and EAFM for sustainable development; Balancing well‐being of the ecosystem with human well‐being through good governance. Under the second LOA between FAO and The Department of Fisheries for implementation of the REBYC‐II CTI Project in Thailand, the following specific objectives were identified: Increase knowledge of ecosystem resource management. Increase knowledge and capacity in critical thinking, research analyses, planning, and systematic project implementation and evaluation; Increase opportunities for the exchange of ideas, altitudes and experiences between trainers, officers and community representatives