KRABI - Andaman Bay will be closed to most commercial fishing for three months from April 1 - June 30 to allow spawning and rehabilitation of marine resources, the Department of Fisheries anounced on Wednesday.
Saen Sri-ngam, chief of the Krabi fisheries office, said the closure will cover an area of 4,696 square kilometres, straddling parts of Phuket, Phangnga, Krabi and Trang provinces.
During the closure, use of fishing equipment which affects the breeding of marine life, particularly pla thu (mackerel), will be prohibited.
Mr Saen also said fisheries officials had since March 15 demolished more than 200 bamboo stake traps, which are illegal, under the campaign to suppress use of illegal fishing equipment in coastal areas of Muang, Nua Khlong and Khlong Thom districts of Krabi. This had returned about 400,000 rai of the Andaman Sea for local people to make use of.