Villagers oppose dugong satellite tracking project
Trang: A project to tag endangered dugongs with satellite-trackable markers might harm the animals and should be stopped, local fishermen in Trang say.
More than 30 local fishermen yesterday spoke out against the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre research project to attach satellite tags on rare dugongs to monitor their behaviour, their sea-grass habitat and the animals' migration route in the Trang sea.
So far, the research team, comprising Thai and Japanese biologists, has tagged only three dugongs.
The fishermen aired their views during a forum held at the Andaman Foundation in Muang district of Trang yesterday. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation took part, as represented by Sanit Ongsara, chief of the National Parks Division in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Issama-el Bensa-ard, a representative of the Trang fishermen's club, said authorities and residents should discuss ways to conserve the rare dugongs. His club will step up pressure to stop the tagging project if authorities ignore their call, he said.
Aren Phrakhong, deputy chairman of the Trang fishermen's club, insisted his group had no ulterior motive. It did not want to ask for state funding, but merely wanted a role in conserving dugongs.
Members of his club have taken care of marine resources in the Trang sea for years. Most local fishermen consider the sea and its marine resources their home, he added.
Manot Wongsureerat, chief of Hat Chao Mai national park in Trang, defended the project, saying it was widely accepted overseas. About 20 million baht has been allocated for the scheme.
Villagers oppose dugong satellite tracking project
Trang: A project to tag endangered dugongs with satellite-trackable markers might harm the animals and should be stopped, local fishermen in Trang say.
More than 30 local fishermen yesterday spoke out against the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre research project to attach satellite tags on rare dugongs to monitor their behaviour, their sea-grass habitat and the animals' migration route in the Trang sea.
So far, the research team, comprising Thai and Japanese biologists, has tagged only three dugongs.
The fishermen aired their views during a forum held at the Andaman Foundation in Muang district of Trang yesterday. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife, and Plant Conservation took part, as represented by Sanit Ongsara, chief of the National Parks Division in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Issama-el Bensa-ard, a representative of the Trang fishermen's club, said authorities and residents should discuss ways to conserve the rare dugongs. His club will step up pressure to stop the tagging project if authorities ignore their call, he said.
Aren Phrakhong, deputy chairman of the Trang fishermen's club, insisted his group had no ulterior motive. It did not want to ask for state funding, but merely wanted a role in conserving dugongs.
Members of his club have taken care of marine resources in the Trang sea for years. Most local fishermen consider the sea and its marine resources their home, he added.
Manot Wongsureerat, chief of Hat Chao Mai national park in Trang, defended the project, saying it was widely accepted overseas. About 20 million baht has been allocated for the scheme.
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