Phuket

Starving fishermen blame government restrictions for loss of income

Published

3 years ago

May 7, 2016

Starving fishermen blame government restrictions for loss of income | The Thaiger

PHANG NGA: More than 300 anchovy fishermen, claiming loss of income following the introduction of new regulations established by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, gathered in protest at Laem Mai pier at Koh Yao Noi on Thursday.

Led by spokesperson Tiwakorn Thongkert, the fishermen demand changes to regulations which prevent vessels weighing 10 tons or more from fishing within three miles of the shore.

“About 30 boats are affected by the regulations. Anchovy are usually found close to the shore. The fish can be found outside the three-mile exclusion zone but those catches are so small it is not worth the fishermen’s time and expense,” said Mr Tiwakorn.

The fishermen have been losing out since the three-mile zone was introduced about a month ago, so we want the boundary to be reduced from three miles to 1.5 miles,” he added.

Koh Yao district chief Buri Thammarak met with the protestors and accepted a letter outlining their demands to be passed on to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

He said he sympathized with the fishermen’s plight and promised that their issues would be addressed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives deputy minister, Narong Pipatchai, who is scheduled to visit the island on May 11.

“The fishermen have no income now. They cannot wait any longer. We have asked officials several times to look into this and other issues, but nothing ever happens,” said Mr Tiwakorn.

Mr Tiwakorn explained that the fishermen use large boats as it was much more cost-effective than using several smaller boats for the same task.

“If we use small boats, we have to use two vessels; one for fishing and the other for boiling the fish, so it’s better to use one large boat that can do both these things,” said Mr Tiwakorn.

Mr Buri said local officials have met many times to resolve the issue on a provincial level, but added that his hands were tied.

“Even though we understand and agree with the fishermen’s demands, we still need approval from the central government before making any changes,” said Mr Buri.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong

Environment

Mariam the young Krabi dugong dies

Published

14 hours ago

August 17, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: กรมทรัพยากรทางทะเลและชายฝั่ง

The Phuket Marine Biological Centre has announced the sad news about the special young dugong ‘Mariam’, who was found in Krabi back on April 26.

Young Mariam died earlier today.

The centre posted on its official Facebook page that the vet team found that she’d stopped breathing and her pulse had stopped as well, so they brought her out of the water to try and stimulate breathing.

Initially, they found that she was still responding from her eyes so they return her back to the pond. After checking the pulse, they found that it stopped again so they used some veterinary medications to keep her alive and pulled her out of the water for a second time.

She was pronounced dead at midnight today.

In a post mortem the vets found that Mariam had consumed a quantity of plastic that may have been previously undetectable.

“Rest in peace Mariam, our little angel,” says the PMBC post.

Read some more about Mariam HERE.

Phuket

Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket

Published

2 days ago

August 16, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTO: Sira Jenjaka MP, says he has received death threats

A government MP for Bangkok says he has received death threats for revealing a Phuket condo project that allegedly sits on land without the proper documentation. The project, at this stage, remains un-named.

Sira Jenjaka is an MP with the ruling Palang Pracharat Party and claims that two people had already died as a result of revealing the problems with the project.

He alleges the land documents had been revoked by the Administrative court in the past and says he will petition the Justice Ministry to have the project probed by the DSI (Department of Special Investigation).

Mr Sira says the un-named condo project, located in Tambon Karon (below), occupies land where the Nor Sor 3 Kor land ownership papers were revoked by the Administrative Court. He has alleged that the project is owned by a “retired high-ranking policeman”.

“If government officials were found to be involved in the alleged malpractice, the state could be sued for damages worth billions of baht”, according to a quote in the Bangkok Post.

He said that the potential buyers of the condominium apartments are mostly foreigners.

Mr Sirat said he planned to ask the Phuket governor to suspend the local mayor for alleged negligence in connection with the condominium project. He will also speak to the Phuket governor suspend construction of the project and cancel any contractor’s licences.

The MP says that some state officials may have their authority and been complicit in the approval of the Nor Sor 3 Kor document.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket | News by The Thaiger

PHOTO: Manager Online

Government MP receives death threats after exposing illegal condo project in Phuket | News by The Thaiger

Environment

Turtle rescued on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket

Published

3 days ago

August 15, 2019

The Thaiger & The Nation

Turtle rescued on Nai Harn Beach, Phuket | The Thaiger

PHOTO: Aroon Solos

Today (August 15) at about 1pm, the lifeguard team at Nai Harn Beach rescued a small turtle, which had become stuck in a fertiliser sack.

They found the turtle washed up ashore with the sack wrapped up around its neck. They tried to carefully remove the sack from the turtle’s neck but found that the turtle had been injured around the neck so they contacted the Phuket Marine Biological Centre to take the turtle back to the centre for further examination and treatment.

Well done to the lifesavers at Nai Harn.

VIDEO: Rawai Mayor Aroon Solos