Development of Fisheries Refugia through Closed Seasons and Areas in the Gulf of Thailand

Abstract

Marine capture fisheries of Thailand had been in the top ten fisheries production countries in the world. Indo Pacific mackerel (Rastrelliger brachysoma) is one of the country's most important pelagic species, particularly those caught from the Gulf of Thailand. However, increasing demand of the Thai people together with the rapid development and improvement of fishing gear and fishing techniques resulted in the stock reduction of the Indo Pacific mackerel and some other commercially important pelagic species in the Gulf of Thailand. Therefore, the Department of Fisheries of Thailand established fisheries refugia or closed seasons and areas in some parts of the Gulf of Thailand in order to prohibit some fishing gear and fishing techniques as well as monitor the changes in the status of aquatic species and also the fishing methods in order to determine appropriate measures from time to time for sustainable use of these pelagic species. During the past 60 years (1953-2015), the Department of Fisheries issued a total of 13 fisheries management measures in five periods relating to the development of fishing gears and fishing techniques corresponding to the 'Gulf Closing' in the southern areas (Prachaup Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani) with the aim of conserving the spawning areas and nursery stage of aquatic resources in the Gulf. The measures for conserving the Indo-Pacific mackerel were used as basis for the formulation and development of other conservation measures. Cancellation and revision of these measures were also made from time to time in accordance with the change of status of the fishery resources and the effective management of the aquatic resources for sustainable exploitation.