Thailand’s largely industrialised fishing sector is one of the
most profitable in the world and Thailand is currently the third
largest exporter of fish and fisheries products by value, with
seafood exports valued at $7.3 billion in 2011.48/49 However,
rapid expansion of 'fishing effort'* has led Thailand’s national
fisheries to become dangerously over-exploited, putting further
pressure on boat operators to cut costs in the face of declining
catch sizes.