The Implication of Set net Fisheries to Coastal Fisheries Management

Abstract

The objective of this study was to analyze the opinion of the fishermen on the impacts of set net to their fishing and on the set net fisheries to coastal fisheries management. The data were collected by interviewing 60 local fishermen who fish along the Mae Rumphueng Beach, Rayong Province, Thailand from 28 to 30 March 2007, using a pre-designed questionnaire. The fishers’ opinion on the status of the marine resource revealed that compared to the past, the status of the resource was poor as observed by 65% of the respondents. Others have indicated that the resource had not changed while some said that the resource was better (as rated by 32% and 3%, respectively). The results also indicated that 98.3% of the respondents have realized the importance of coastal fisheries management for the sustainable use of the coastal resources. They fully agreed with the suggestion that they should be involved and should participate in the coastal fisheries management. From the time the set net project was implemented, most of the fishers have been familiar with the set net project with 56.6% of the total respondents participating in the set net activities at least ones while 41.7% did not participate in the activities because they did not have enough information on the project. However, the fishermen positively agreed that the set net fishery is useful for fishery resources management even though they also indicated that it has no impact on their fishing activities. For the survey, the respondents considered were the ex- members of the set net fishers’ group (58.3%) while the remaining 41.7% were never members of the group. The main reasons they gave for their lack of interest in becoming members of the group included their available time which did not match with the operating time of the set net activities, the income gained is less, and the uncomfortable feeling of working with other people (80%, 21.7% and 20%, respectively).