Channel NewsAsia 13 Jun 08;
PATTANI PROVINCE, Southern Thailand : Fishermen in the southern Thailand province of Pattani are facing an uncertain future.
Their fishing grounds have been limited, amid negotiations to finalise a deal with Riau Islands in Indonesia.
In Pattani province in Thailand's deep south, fishing is essential to the region's economic survival.
But now the fishing and fish processing industries are being threatened.This year, production is expected to be down by more than a third.
Amnard Suntornkuman, Fish Factory Quality Control, said, "Our production is being affected. We catch less fish than we did in the past."
The fishermen are feeling the effects of fewer fish too.
One fisherman said, "These fish are very fresh. The fishermen have to stay out at sea for two nights, then come back to hand in the fish here."
He said that previously, fishermen would get the same catch in just a day.
Much of the fish used to come from Indonesian waters around the Riau Islands.
But a concession agreement between Pattani province and Riau Islands has stalled.
With fewer places to fish, the fisherman have to stay out longer.
There are about 70,000 fishing boats registered in Thailand, but trade groups and the Fisheries Association have said that number should really be closer to 40,000, given the reduced areas that fishermen are allowed to travel into.
Fishing and fish processing accounts for a third of the province's income and the provincial governor said the best solution is not to reduce fleets, but to hammer out a deal with Indonesia and the Riau Islands.
Pattani Governor Panu Uthairat said, "The Thai government really wants to negotiate with Indonesia and we have been partially successful. At the same time, on the provincial level, I - as Pattani Governor - have been talking to the Riau Islands' Governor."
Both provinces have signed a memorandum of understanding, and the Riau Islands is letting a very limited number of Thai fishing boats in.
They have not finalised an agreement and neither party can say when they will do so. - CNA/ms
