Thailand is the world’s third-largest exporter of fish and fishery products. But heavy fishing off the country’s coast and a lack of regulations is leaving the waters severely depleted. Some fish stocks are nearing the point of no return.
Samut Sakorn, Thailand’s beating heart. This has always been the “Fishing City”.
It may seem idyllic: fishermen in small boats casting their own nets. But this area is slowly seeing its own destruction. According to official statistics, from a peak of almost 300kg per hour in the 1960s, Thai fishing boats are catching now just 18kg per hour on average making The Gulf of Thailand one of the most exploited seas in the world.
Fishing is one of the largest industries in Southeast Asia, yet 80 percent of the region’s fishermen operate on a small scale. As areas once suitable for fishing become polluted and fish populations disappear, the future of small-scale fishing in Thailand is in jeopardy.
On any given day across the Gulf, 13,000 small boats skim the coast. Sold throughout the world, Thailand is the world’s third-largest exporter of fish and fishery products.
The sheer volume of fishing over the past few decades, improved technology that increase the size of catches, the nation’s waters is reaching a critical time, with some species nearing the point of no return.
“It affects not only the fisherman. And its more serious for the small scale fisheries because it is very difficult for them to access marine resources,” Pirochana Saikliang, Senior Expert of Thailand Department of Fishers.
Romtsai has been fishing since he was a child. His father was fisherman and his son, just 9 years old was meant to carry on the tradition. If his catch keeps going the way it is, he could be last generation of fishermen in his family.
“30 years ago, we caught a lot of fish. Some got up to 7,000kg. But now we are lucky to get even 500kg a day. Some days we get nothing. It’s a bad life,” Romtsai said.
Human activity has already obstructed the natural rhythms of Thailand’s beating heart, the question is, can the damage be repaired.
2013 China Central Television