Small fishermen in Rayong on Monday called on Thailand's biggest petrochemical company to do more to rehabilitate oil-spill impacted sites along the province’s coastline, saying they still are living with the after effects of a spill two years ago.
The demand was made at a forum held by the local Small-Scale Fishery Association to mark the second anniversary of the July 27, 2013 oil spill caused by the rupture of a PTT Global Chemical Plc offshore pipeline near the Map Ta Phut industrial estate that spilled 50,000 litres of crude oil into the sea.
The leak blackened Ao Phrao beach on the popular resort island of Koh Samet and some parts of the Rayong coastline.
Local fishermen, human-rights advocates and environmental scientists attended the forum.
At the meeting, association members called on PTTGC to work with local authorities and fishing groups to collect as much oil residue as possible left on coral reefs, rocks and in navigation channels.
The company and concerned agencies should also compensate fishermen for lost revenue during clean-up operations, they said.
The anglers suggested that 20 nautical miles from the Rayong shore be declared a pollution-control zone.
Yongyuth Chaisak, 43, owner of a cuttlefish boat, said he had to sail farther from shore for his catches after the PTTGC spill, costing him more in fuel and ice expenses, as well putting him at greater risk from rough weather.
He said the release of fish and other aquatic animals into the sea by authorities was not enough to help local fishermen hit by the mishap.
Sangchai Rattanawijit of Human Rights Lawyer Association, said aquatic animal resources in spill-impacted sites have recovered less than 50% in the past two years.
Tar balls believed to have stemmed from the cleanup operations occasionally have washed ashore on Mae Ramphung beach and reported by the media, he added.