Opinions on new concepts of Thai marine capture fishery management of fishermen in the inner gulf of Thailand

Negative impacts of marine capture fishery on the fishery resources, its stakeholders, and the countrys economy attributable to the traditional open-access management regime have tempted many agencies to introduce an alternative concept that is more capable of restoring the marine fishery resources, and reducing resource-users conflicts. Attempts have been made during the past several years to introduce a new marine fishery management regime that features right-based and community-based attributes. Given the political system in Thailand, one of the tenacious hurdles is the acceptance of the major stakeholder-fishermen. This study seeks to understand the way of life and attitude toward the new marine fishery management concept of fishermen in the Inner Gulf of Thailand that spans outside the coasts of seven populous provinces. In structured interview, the respondents are found during a period of one year during their fishing in a 25-sq.mi. grid in the inner Gulf. To each question, the respondents were asked whether they favor the option proposed by the new marine fishery management concept. The results from this study that involve 188 respondents are not at all surprising. As much as 90 percent of these active fishermen was able-bodied male (only 4 percent was older that 60), 91 percent with primary education (which is compulsory), 88 percent local residents, 79 percent as a common man (without any recognized social position). There are many types of coastal fishing gear used for fishing in this area, 85 percent with sole occupation in fishing. Fishing labors came from their family of from Thais and aliens. It is interesting to find that the high preponderance (98 percent) of both small-scale and commercial fishermen acquired their fishing skills from their predecessors or their own trial-and-error, or both. Hypothesis testing are mostly rejected excepts for sample with different knowledge, understanding and anticipation on new concepts of Thai marine capture fishery management who had significantly different to ward on new concepts of Thai marine capture fishery management of fishermen in the Inner Gulf of Thailand. It is suggested that before the implementation of the new concepts of Thai marine capture fishery management, the people involved should have knowledge and understand about principle and formation of the new concepts very well and much be allowed to participate in the decision-making concerning their well-being or direct impact that might take place to ensure their absolute sustainable fisheries in the future.