Banchong opposes U-turn on seine nets

A leading marine conservationist is strongly opposed to a proposal to amend Section 69 of the Fisheries Act to allow seine nets with mesh sizes smaller than 2.5 centimetres to be used at night in combination with light attraction to catch fish.

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Banchong Nasae, adviser to the Thai Sea Watch Association, warned that the amendment would severely harm marine ecosystems, accelerate the depletion of juvenile fish stocks and undermine the livelihoods of small-scale fishermen.

On Dec 25 last year, the House voted to approve a new fisheries bill to amend Section 69, which prohibits the use of a purse seine net with a mesh size smaller than 2.5cm for nighttime fishing.

In an open letter posted on Facebook, Mr Banchong, who is also a recipient of the Santiprachatham Award, said the use of this equipment at night would "indiscriminately sweep up vast numbers of juvenile fish and small marine organisms".