The Department of Fisheries has declared a temporary ban on fishing in some areas of the Gulf of Thailand starting on Thursday (15 June) to help revitalize local marine life.
Department chief Chalermchai Suwanrak said the closure would span an area of 2,350 square kilometers, covering eight provinces in Thailand’s central and eastern regions.
The closure will be divided into two phases. The first phase, which begins Thursday and continues until August 15, will cover the provinces of Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon. The second phase, from August 1 to September 30, will cover the gulf from Samut Sakhon province to Sri Racha district in Chon Buri province.
The department chief emphasizes the importance of the closure in revitalizing marine life in the Gulf of Thailand following a surge in commercial fishing in the area. It was reported that at least 11,700 kg of fish were caught per day in 2022, up from 8,630 kg the previous year.
The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.
