More than 1,000 small-scale fisherfolk from southern Thailand´s coastal provinces continue to blockade the Songkhla deep-sea port and the Petroleum Authority of Thailand (PAT) depot over the past week. The small scale fisherfolk are demanding an end to night fishing by anchovy trawlers equipped with powerful lights to attract the fish. About 200 fishers, the members of the Federation of Small-scale Fisherfolk in Phuket also plan to close Phuket Bay if authorities used force to clear the blockade at the Songkhla deep-sea port.

Before beginning the blockade, the representatives from the Federation of Small Scale Fisherfolk from Southern Thailand met the Agricultural Minister in Bangkok on 14 June 1999. The federation requested a solution to their long-standing dispute with the commercial anchovy trawlers about the practice of night fishing using electric lights. Small-scale fishers also stated that they would undertake peaceful demonstrations for their rights if their request fell on deaf ears.

On Saturday 19 June, Agriculture Minister Pongpol Adireksarn ordered the temporary suspension of using electric lights in anchovy fishing and pending negotiations on June 28 with the small-scale fisherfolk and the National Fishery Policy Committee.

Boonyarit, a member of the Phang Nga Small-Scale Anchovy Fishermen´s Club stated that they are not against commercial anchovy fishing boats, but want a ban on electric lights trawlers and night fishing with 0.5 mesh nets. The small scale fisherfolk want the government to revoke a ministerial decree issued in March 1996 allowing anchovy boats to lure fish with electric lights.

Fish of all sizes are attracted by the light and swim towards the trawlers after which they are all caught in encircling nets that have small mesh-holes of only half a centimetre in diameter. The night fishing threatens to wipe out the already declining fisheries resources of the Gulf of Thailand. Fisheries research reveals that due to the use of lights, baby fish or fish which are not mature comprise nearly 50 per cent of the catch. These small fish will have a lot of economic value when they are fully grown.

"It´s not fair to nature and small-scale fishermen that the commercial anchovy fishing boats with electric lights catch all kinds of fish even when they are not mature and which even the boat operators don´t want," he said.

Since last year, more than 200 anchovy trawlers mainly owned by big businesses in the eastern provinces have entered the southern sea because pollution and overfishing had depleted fish stocks along the eastern coast. With the increase in the numbers of commercial anchovy trawlers in the southern sea, particularly night fishing by anchovy trawlers, fish stocks are facing extinction. Small-scale fishing livelihoods which depend on coastal fisheries for their survival are severely affected.

Alee Dingwang, a fisherfolk from Satun, said he and his neighbours used to earn around Bt. 4,000 to Bt. 8,000 (US$ 125-250) a month by catching fish three kilometres from the coastline - which has decreased to only Bt.1,500 to Bt. 3,500 (US$ 47-110) after the night anchovy trawlers intruded into the sea off Satun.

The week-long blockade of the Songkhla deep-sea port has caused delays to cargo shipping and tourism cruise vessels. Port director Wattanachai Ruanglertpanyakul said exporters were cancelling contracts to ship containers through the port. He estimated that losses already amounted to more than 10 million baht (US$ 300,000). The Agriculture Minister has warned that if the blockade causes damage to the economy in the South and in Songkhla, the Songkhla provincial administration will request the navy to disperse the protesters. Meanwhile, in a television interview, the president of the Songkla Chamber of Commerce accused small-scale fisherfolk of being trouble-makers.

On Wednesday 23 June, the Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai made a brief visit to Sonkhla along with the Deputy Agriculture Minister, Anurak Jureemas who was assigned to meet the fishers at the protest site. He said that the Ministry accepted that anchovy fishing with electric lights and fine-mesh nets caused destruction of the marine ecosystem. The government will ban anchovy fishing at night but suggested that the small-scale fishers begin direct negotiations with commercial anchovy fishing businesses concerning the date of enforcement.

The deputy minister pointed out that it is necessary to provide some time for the trawlers to alter their fishing equipment. Unfortunately he himself did not suggest any definite date. He also stressed that the final decision will be made in the next meeting of National Fishery Policy Committee (NFPC) on 28 June.

The small-scale fisherfolk are not satisfied with the ministry’s response. They require an immediate and permanent ban of the nocturnal anchovy fishing with lights. They question whether their interests will be adequately represented since the NFPC comprises government officials and politicians with commercial interests in the fishing companies or food processing factories from the eastern provinces. There is no representative from the Federation of Small Scale Fisherfolk or any fishing communities in the committee. The small scale fishers place little trust in the competence of the NFPC to discuss matters relating to the marine ecology and local livelihoods.

The fishers state that if their negotiations with the anchovy businesses fail, then the authorities will move in to end the protests, possibly through violent means. It is also likely that the anchovy trawlers may plan a counter protest. Increased tensions in the area would only make it easier for the government to use force to disperse the protests.

Muhama Sukree Masaning, committee member of the Federation of Small Scale Fisherfolk in Southern Thailand, speaking on behalf of the small-scale fishers stated that: "We protest because we are in a desperate situation. We want simply to voice our rights in order to protect our sea, our marine resources and our livelihood. We demand the Prime Minister and his government to solve the problem with justice. The blockade would continue at Songkhla deep sea port until the government shows its sincerity and finds a permanent solution to the problem."