Fisheries: The Tua Kor area of the Gulf of Thailand will be closed to fishing for a limited period starting on Thursday, the Fisheries Department announced on Monday.
Department chief Chalermchai Suwanrak said the ban was necessary following a sharp increase in commercial fishing in the area.
At least 11,700 kilogrammes of fish, on average, were caught per day in 2022, up from the 8,630kg caught daily the previous year.
The closure of this part of the Gulf, covering eight provinces in the central and eastern regions, will be divided into two phases, said Mr Chalermchai.
The first phase starts on Thursday and ends on Aug 15, covering a 2,350-square-kilometre area of the Gulf from Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon.
The second phase will start on Aug 1 to Sept 30, covering a 1,650-square-kilometre area from Muang district in Samut Sakhon province to Sri Racha district in Chon Buri.
The department hopes the closure will help replenish fish stocks in the area, said Mr Chalermchai.