Revealing the ecological threats of small-scale fisheries in Thailand Published on: 4 August 2023 Marine conservation experts have revealed for the first time the extent of marine megafauna catch by small-scale fisheries in Thailand. The Â鶹´«Ã½ study provides the first-ever estimate of the annual catch of marine megafauna species, including rays, sharks, sea turtles, dolphins, and dugongs, in Thailand’s small-scale fisheries – those fisheries using small boats, low tech equipment and often haul their fishing gear by hand. , the results show estimated annual catches of 5.6 million rays, 457 thousand sharks, 2.4 thousand sea turtles, 790 small cetaceans, and 72 dugongs in Thailand’s small-scale fisheries. “We collected data using questionnaire interviews with 535 fishers in 17 provinces along the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea coasts in 2016 and 2017. Our results show that gillnets, especially crab gillnets and shrimp trammel nets, were responsible for most of the catch, posing a significant threat to marine megafauna in Thailand” said Dr Thevarit Svarachorn, who conducted the study during his PhD research at Â鶹´«Ã½. Many of the species caught in these fisheries, like butterfly rays, wedgefish, and reef sharks, are already threatened with extinction. “These are shallow water species. They are very exposed to small-scale fisheries pressure, which are likely key drivers of their extinction risk around the world.” said co-author Dr Andrew Temple, Global Postdoctoral Fellow at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology. Senior author, Professor Per Berggren, Professor of Marine Megafauna Conservation at Â鶹´«Ã½ School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, said: “The study highlights the urgent need for regulating gillnet fishing, especially crab gillnets, to protect threatened megafauna from disappearing. These species are crucial for maintaining the health and productivity of the marine ecosystem. “Alternative fishing gears such as traps and pots should be considered to target the desired species without harming marine megafauna. Collaboration between fishers, manufacturers, and fisheries managers, along with training on best practices for releasing caught megafauna, could further reduce by-catch mortality.” The authors also recommend using LED lights on gillnets, acoustic deterrent devices, bycatch reduction devices and turtle excluder devices to help prevent megafauna bycatch. Reference Svarachorn, T., Temple, A.J. & Berggren, P. (2023). Marine megafauna catch in Thai small-scale fisheries. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 1–18. Small-scale Thai fishing vessel hauling gillnet with humpback dolphin in the foreground. Image: Thevarit Svarachorn. Share: Latest News Volunteers help turn Whitley Bay beach into maths experiment Members of the public joined mathematicians from Â鶹´«Ã½ to create what organisers believe is the largest aperiodic tiling ever attempted on Whitley Bay beach. published on: 15 June 2026 Student leader drives misogyny law change A Â鶹´«Ã½ student leader has helped change the law after creating a petition to make misogyny a hate crime, which gathered over 114,000 signatures, prompting action in Parliament. published on: 12 June 2026 Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ see construction of new Castle Leazes The Freemen of Â鶹´«Ã½ and other key stakeholders have become an indelible part of new student accommodation at Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s Castle Leazes. published on: 12 June 2026 Facts and figures
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