REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Managing Fisheries and Habitat Linkages
in Thailand: The Prachuap Khiri Khan
Chumphon Fisheries Refugia
Mr. Pirochana Saikliang
UNEP/GEF National Fisheries Focal Point for Thailand
Department of Fisheries, Thailand

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Purpose
· To review the history of the
development of fisheries
refugia in the Gulf of Thailand
· To present the on-going
challenges in the management
of fisheries refugia sites
· To introduce plans to establish
a fisheries refugia site in the
Koh Chang Strait area of
Thailand

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
Pre-1953
· Identification of the importance
of Indo-Pacific mackerel
(Rastrelliger
brachysoma/neglectus)
1953
· Establishment of a spawning
season closure for Indo-Pacific
mackerel (1st April-31st May)
prohibition of purse seine fishing

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
1953-1959
· Realisation that the 1953
spawning closure was ineffective
(site was too large, insufficient
enforcement capabilities, and
based on limited information)
· Establishment of the Indo-Pacific
mackerel research team (1957)
· Collection of fishery biological
information (mainly fish larvae)
· Led to change in 1959 of
spawning closure area and
duration (1st January 30th April)

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
1953-1959 (cont.)
· Purse seine and gill net fishing
was prohibited during the Jan-
April closure
· Department of Fisheries
included a provision in the
regulation that enabled fishers to
operate these gears during
closes season if they were
licensed and maintained log
books

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
1960-1963
· On-going fishery research, focus
on larval fish
· Establishment of specific
spawning (1st January-31st
March) and nursery closures
(15th April-14th June) in 1962
· Purse seine and gill nets
prohibited during spawning
closure
· Encircling gill nets could be used
during nursery closure if mesh
size >4.7cm . Purse seine
fishing was prohibited.

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
1964-1972
· Over-fishing of demersal
resources led trawl fishers to
modify their gears and practices
to target pelagic species
· List of fishing gear prohibited
was extended to include trawling
during the periods 1st Feb-31st
Mar
1973-1975
· Rapid increase in the use of light
luring purse seines led to ban
of this practice and extension of
nursery closure to 14th July

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
1976-1984
· Identification of importance of
the site to other species
· 1983 notification extended
closures to multiple species
led to large protests by fishers
· Negotiations between
Department of Fisheries and
fishermen led to the area of the
site being reduced (50,000 sq.
km) and duration of spawning
and nursery closures were
reduced areas managed for
multiple species

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Prachuap Khiri Khan Surat Thani
Fisheries Refugia Site in the Gulf of Thailand
1985-1994
· Anchovy purse seine fishing
permitted in area for 6 years
· Conflicts between fishers using
anchovy purse seines and other
gears
1995-1999
· Rapid increase in the use of new
fishing gears and practices
1999 Notification of permitted
fishing gears and practices

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Recent Challenges in the Management of the Prachuap Khiri
Khan Surat Thani Fisheries Refugia Site
2000-2006
· Pressure from fishers to reduce the
area of the site by 3,000 sq.km in
the Chumphon area
· Inappropriate use of mackerel gill
net by both large and small scale
sectors

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Recent Challenges in the Management of the Prachuap Khiri
Khan Surat Thani Fisheries Refugia Site
Mackerel gill net
Mesh size=4.7cm
Length=>14km
· Schools
detected using
echo-sounders
· Net set in zig-
zag manner
· Hauled by
power-block

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Recent Challenges in the Management of the Prachuap Khiri
Khan Surat Thani Fisheries Refugia Site
· Fishers target
Indo-Pacific
mackerel
· Practice highly
species/size
selective
· Species targeted
during spawning
aggregations
· 100% of
mackerel landed
at gonadal stage
4&5

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
· Development of the
Koh Chang Strait
Fisheries Refugia
Site (1)
· Nursery area for a
large number of
economically
important fish
species