The risk of overfishing in Thailand
According to FAO fisheries statistics, Thailand ranked as the 9th top fish producing country in 2001. The production volume was 3,605,544 metric ton sharing 3% of the world production. Nevertheless Thai export value was about 1% of world export value, ranked as 23rd indicating low price of Thai fish export. Due to fishery resource degradation in Thai waters as well as constraints on coastal environment, the increase in production as well as export was limited. Greenpeace's figures suggest that fish catches have declined continuously over the past 50 years. What was 300 kilograms (660 pounds) per hour in 1961 has plummeted to just 25 kilos per hour in 2011.
In 1972 demersal resources in the Gulf of Thailand had already been over fished. CPUE decreased further to 63 kg/hr (Boonlerd Phasuk, 1987). Nevertheless, in the same year Thailand was ranked as one of the top ten fish producing country, with a total production of 1.7 mill mt. In 1973, light luring purse seine was adopted. In 1977, fish production reached 2 million mt for the first time and fluctuated since then. Economic pelagic species including Indo pacific mackerel, sardines and trevallies were over fished.
In early 1980s fishing grounds were limited by EEZ. Nevertheless, after 1981 a number of these vessels fished in neighboring fishing grounds and could lead to increase in marine catches. In 1983, CPUE decreased to 50 kg/hr but increased again in 1984 to 62 kg/hr. In 1989 CPUE in the Gulf of Thailand decreased to 20 kg/hr, and further decreased to 12 kg/hr in 2005.
In response to resource degradation Thai fishermen adapt their fishing in search of available resources. Examples include the fish attractive device purse seine and light luring anchovy purse seine targeted for pelagic species when demersal resources were degraded. Catch composition changed according to these adjustment which finally without effective control led to more degradation.
Degraded fishery resources in the Gulf of Thailand directly impacted on small scale fishermen who had to rely on coastal resources given limited capacity in leaving fisheries for the higher earning occupations. A number of commercial fishing vessels, especially the large vessel, turned to fish in non-Thai fishing grounds while some decided to quit fishing for the other better income occupations.
Collaboration and compliance from the fishermen influence the success in fishery management. Social factors explain behavior of stakeholders which are important in effective planning on fishery management. Political environment and administrative management regime are also important for successful planning. Social factors will include understanding on the fishermen, their livelihood, fishing community, fishery legislation, fisherman compliance to fishery rules and regulation, fishery politics, and fishery administration.