Fishermen have called on authorities to adjust the days they are allowed to catch fish each month to comply with practices based on lunar phases.
The proposal was made when representatives from fishermen groups met authorities last Wednesday, said Kamjorn Mongkoltriluck, chief of the Samut Sakhon Fishery Association. Details of the meeting were revealed yesterday.
Officials who attended the meeting included Admiral Pallop Tamisanont, special adviser to the navy and head of the National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) working panel on fisheries affairs, as well as representatives from the anti-illegal fishing working panel, the Marine Department, the Department of Fisheries, the Labour Ministry and the NCPO's strategic steering committee.
The proposal will be forwarded to the Command Centre for Combatting Illegal Fishing for approval, Mr Kamjorn said. Restrictions on monthly fishing days began on Sept 1.
According to the new proposal, for those using otter trawl nets, trawlers would change the days they stay in port from the 1st-3rd and 11th-16th days of each month, to the 1st-3rd and 16th-17th days of each month.
For those using surrounding nets in the Gulf of Thailand, the enforced period would change from the 1st-3rd, 11th-13th and 21st-23rd of each month to the 11th-15th of waxing moon days and the 1st-4th of waning moon days in the lunar calendar.
Those using surrounding nets in the Andaman sea will have their break period from fishing altered from the 1st-3rd and 11th-12th of each month to the 13th-15th of waxing moon days and the 1st-4th waning moon days.
Under the proposal, trawlers would stay in port for a 24-hour period from 6am. Fishing trawlers must be docked at ports authorised by the Marine Department.
Mr Kamjorn said the fishermen are ready to work with authorities to protect marine resources but officials should also discuss the issue with fishermen to work out practical measures.