Part of the Gulf of Thailand will be largely closed to fishing for three months from mid-February to conserve and protect fish stocks, particularly mackerel, during the spawning season.
Fisheries Department director-general Adisorn Promthep said the three-month annual closure of 26,400 square kilometres of the Gulf of Thailand in the waters off Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon and Surat Thani provinces will run from Feb 15 until May 15.
The three-month closure coincides with the spawning and nursery season of many fish species, he said.
During that period, there would be a ban on use of fishing gear that would adversely affect reproduction of of mackerel and other economically important marine animals.
This measure has been imposed annually since 1953 to conserve and replenish the ecology of the Gulf, Mr Adisorn said.
The department will formally mark the fishing ban with a ceremony on Feb 14 at a port in tambon Pak Nam of Chumphon province, he said. He encouraged people to attend and take part in it.