NAKHON RATCHASIMA - Fish farmers have been given until Sept 30 to remove more than 1,100 illegal floating baskets from Lam Sae reservoir in Khon Buri district, where only 540 are permitted.
Irrigation authorities in this northeastern province finally issued the order for the removal of the baskets, or krachang, having allowed fish raisers a grace period after a warning almost a year ago.
Khon Buri district chief Thongchai Olarnwattanachai led officials from the Lam Moon Bon-Lam Sae water supply and maintenance project, the district fisheries office and soldiers to inspect fish raising in Lam Sae reservoir in tambon Khok Krachai.
They also spoke with unregistered fish farmers and ordered them to remove their floating baskets from the reservoir.
Permission was previously given for a total of 540 floating fish baskets in the reservoir. However, the inspection found fish were still being raised there in more than 1,700 baskets.
There are a total of 141 farmers registered with irrigation authorities to raise fish in floating baskets. Each has 3-4 baskets.
Owners of the remaining 1,160 krachang must remove their fishing baskets from the reservoir before the end of this month. Some farmers began removing their illegal baskets on Friday morning.
There are over 1,700 floating baskets used to raise fish in Lam Sae reservoir, but only 540 baskets are allowed. (Photo by Prasit Tangprasert)