RAP Publication: 2000/06

Cover 
COASTAL FISHING COMMUNITIES IN THAILAND


CONTENTS


by

ANGKARB POONNACHIT-KORSIEPORN

Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Bangkok, August 2000

The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author alone and do not imply any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

The copyright in this publication is vested in the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, by any method or process, without written permission from the copyright holder. Applications for such permission with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction desired should be made through and addressed to the Senior Fishery Officer, FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Maliwan Mansion, Phra Athit Road, Bangkok 10200, Thailand.

FOREWORD

The diminishing fishery resources along the coasts have increasingly added more pressure to the livelihood of fisherfolk all over Asia. Moreover, increase in the number of fishers due to population growth and migration to coastal communities can be a contributing factor in the overexploitation of local fishery resources and deterioration of the coastal environment. Recognizing that better understanding on the demographic and social dynamics of coastal fishing communities would help in developing policies to achieve sustainable use and conservation of fishery resources and the coastal environment, FAO initiated a project in cooperation with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to strengthen research and training on population and development dynamics of rural fishing communities in Asia and Africa in 1995. The report of this study: Demographic change in coastal fishing communities and its implications for coastal environment by U. Tietze, G. Groenewold and A. Marcoux, was recently published as FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 403.

The study identified needs for information on socio-demographic characteristics and trends for policy analysis and more relevant interventions both in the fishery domain and in the population. For Asia, fishery household surveys were conducted in the coastal States of Bangladesh, India, Malaysia and the Philippines.

It is also important to note that the National Statistical Office of the Prime Minister's Office of Thailand conducted Marine Fishery Censuses in 1985 and 1995, while an intercensal survey on marine fishery sector was conducted in 1990. These surveys and censuses collected extensive data and information on coastal fishing communities of Thailand. The ten-year interval of the 1985 and 1995 Censuses provides an excellent opportunity for analysis and comparison of changes that occurred in marine fishery sector of Thailand. The FAO Regional Office therefore commissioned Dr. Angkarb Korsieporn, a social scientist at the Social Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University (CUSRI), to analyse these changes and prepare a demographic profile of coastal fishing communities in Thailand. The study was funded by the UNFPA-FAO Project (FPA/INT/695/INT).

This publication presents the outcome of Dr. Korsieporn's study which includes not only the treatments of primary data from the Censuses but also her own field surveys in Southern Thailand to evaluate the current situation. Her efforts in preparing this important document is much appreciated. Acknowledgements are also due to Ms. Abha Siriwongs na Ayudhaya for cover picture; to Dr. U. Tietze of Fish Utilization and Marketing Service, Fishery Industries Division, FAO Fisheries Department, for his support and encouragement and to the Great Idea Co., Ltd. for the design of this publication.

 
 Veravat Hongskul
Fisheries Group Leader
FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific

ABSTRACT

The study has two objectives. First is to compare the two marine fishery censuses of 1985 and 1995 in terms of sociological, demographic and economic changes, as well as fishing craft and gear. Second is to survey current small-scale fishing villages: Ban Sai Dang, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao, Phuket province regarding the same aspects, as the censuses. The ultimate aim of the survey is to find out if the fishermen have any potential to participate in or to manage integrated coastal zone management (ICZM).

The field survey found that the people in Koh Maphrao village are all Muslim Thai, most of whom speak both Thai and the local dialect. to speak official Thai language. Formal organizations are few but working. The population is older than that of Sai Dang village, with about three children per family. The villagers have very good knowledge, attitude and practice of family planning, despite the older generation' objection against it. There is a clear division of labour between men and women. The heads of household are almost all fishermen, whereas their spouses tab latex to make smoked rubber sheets and some mend fishing nets. The craft are inboard-powered fishing boats and the majority of the gear are sand whiting gill nets. Though fish are depleting and the catches declining, the villagers maintain economic status despite the economic crisis because of the higher prices fetched by the catches.

The people in Sai Dang village are Buddhist Thai; some of them migrated from other regions and there is a sprinkling of newly migrated Burmese families. The village has the same number of formal organizations as Koh Maphrao, but are not as active. Migration has resulted in the population being newer and less socially cohesive than Koh Maphrao's. They also have very good knowledge and practice of family planning; each family has on average two children. The occupations of the heads of household are more diversified and the proportion of fishing families is lower than among their counterparts in Koh Maphrao. The women are mostly housewives, some engage in primary post-harvest processing. The families are poorer than in Koh Maphrao; more than half engage in either orchards or other service occupations. Fishing families also have inboard-powered boats, but the main gear are crab and fish traps.

The survey is supplemented by in-depth interviews of four people of two generations in each village as well as of officials of various ministries at the provincial level. The conclusion of the study is that the embers of the small-scale fishing communities do not have the knowledge, confidence and ability to set up and manage their own integrated coastal zone management as yet.

Distribution:

FAO Fisheries Department
Fishery Officers in FAO Regional Offices
International Fishery Organizations

© FAO 2000


Hyperlinks to non-FAO Internet sites do not imply any official endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data or products presented at these locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. The sole purpose of links to non-FAO sites is to indicate further information available on related topics.

This electronic document has been scanned using optical character recognition (OCR) software. FAO declines all responsibility for any discrepancies that may exist between the present document and its original printed version.


CONTENTS

Foreword

Abstract

Statistical profile of development in Thailand

Part I:   The desk study

1.   Introduction

2.   Changes in the marine fishing population

3.   Changes in the fishery and fishery employee households

4.   Changes in fishing craft and gear

Part II:   The field study

1.   The field study

2.   The surveyed households

3.   The fishery households

4.   Qualitative case study

Part III:   Conclusions and recommendations

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

References

List of figures

Part I

1.1   The provinces of Thailand

1.2   Provinces in the five coastal zones of Thailand

1.3   Coral reef distribution (1991)

1.4   Condition of coral reefs in Thailand (1991)

1.5   Main locations of seagrass (1997)

2.1   Changes in the fisherman population by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

2.2   Changes in the fishery employee population by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

2.3   Number of fishermen by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

2.4   Number of fisherwomen by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

2.5   Number of male fishery employees by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

2.6   Number of female fishery employees by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

3.1   Fisherman households by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

3.2   Fishery employee households by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.1   Fishing craft by type, 1985 and 1995

4.2   Unpowered and outboard-powered fishing craft by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.3   Inboard-powered fishing craft by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.4   Recorded inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage, 1985 and 1995

4.5   Recorded small-scale inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.6   Recorded large-scale inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.7   Recorded commercial-scale inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.8   Recorded medium-scale inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.9   Recorded large-scale inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.10   Registered fishing boats by year and coastal zone. 1985 and 1995

4.11   Census-recorded and registered outboard-and inboard-powered fishing boats, 1985

4.12   Census-recorded and registered outboard-and inboard-powered fishing boats, 1995

4.13   Comparison of the number of fishing boats census-recorded and registered by coastal zone, 1995

4.14   Comparison of the number of fishing boats under 10 GT census-recorded and registered by coastal zone, 1995

4.15   Comparison of the number of fishing boats of 10–49 GT census-recorded and registered by coastal zone, 1995

4.16   Comparison of the number of fishing boats of 50 GT and over census-recorded and registered by coastal zone, 1995

4.17   Registered fishing boats by type of fishing method, 1985–1995

4.18   Inboard-powered fishing boats using large-scale and small-scale fishing gear, countrywide, 1985 and 1995

4.18.1   Inboard-powered fishing boats using large-scale and small-scale fishing gear for Zone I, 1985 and 1995

4.18.2   Inboard-powered fishing boats using large-scale and small-scale fishing gear for Zone II, 1985 and 1995

4.18.3   Inboard-powered fishing boats using large-scale and small-scale fishing gear for Zone III, 1985 and 1995

4.18.4   Inboard-powered fishing boats using large-scale and small-scale fishing gear for Zone IV, 1985 and 1995

4.18.5   Inboard-powered fishing boats using large-scale and small-scale fishing gear for Zone V, 1985 and 1995

Part II

1.1   Location of Sai Dang village in Ranong province

1.2   Location of Koh Maphrao village in Phuket province

1.3   Map of Sai Dang village

2.1   Age and sex structure of Sai Dang, 1998

2.2   Age and sex structure of Koh Maphrao, 1998

3.1   Fishing households in Sai Dang

3.2   Fishing households in Koh Maphrao

3.3   A poor fishing household in Koh Maphrao

3.4   A typical squatter toilet in Koh Maphrao

3.5   Outboard-powered boat in Sai Dang

3.6   Outboard-powered boat in Koh Maphrao

3.7   Fishing gear used in Sai Dang

3.8   Fishermen using a fish gill net in Koh Maphrao

3.9   Outboard-powered boat using a push net, Phuket province

3.10   Bycatch of an outboard-powered pushnetter, Phuket province

3.11   Woman processing shrimp paste in Sai Dang

3.12   Women cleaning green mussels in Koh Maphrao

3.13   Women repairing and making nets in Koh Maphrao

List of tables

Part I

1.1   Crude birth rate, crude death rate and natural growth rate by region: 1995–1996 and 1985–1986 surveys of population change

1.2   Fertility by region: 1995–1996 and 1985–1986 surveys of population change

1.3   Migration of population 5 years of age and over, by place of birth

1.4   Estimate of undocumented migrant workers in Thailand

1.5   Sustainable and actual fish yields in Thai waters in 1991 (tons)

1.6   Changes in mangrove forest areas by coastal zone and province, 1975–1996

2.1   Population change of fishermen and employees by coastal zone between 1985 and 1995

2.2   Fishermen and fishery employees by intent of involvement in fishery work, 1995

2.3   Population change of fishermen by coastal zone and province between 1985 and 1995

2.4   Change in area under shrimp culture as a percentage of total area under coastal aquaculture by coastal zone and province, 1985 and 1995

2.5   Fishing craft by type and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

2.6   Fishing craft by type, coastal zone and province, 1985 and 1995

2.7   Inboard-powered craft by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

2.8   Inboard-powered craft by gross tonnage, coastal zone and province, 1985 and 1995

2.9   Number of fisherfolk by coastal zone and sex, 1985 and 1995

2.10   Number of fishermen by coastal zone, province and sex, 1985 and 1995

2.11   Number of fishery employees by coastal zone and sex, 1985 and 1995

2.12   Age distribution of fisherfolk by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

2.13   Age distribution of fishery employees by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

2.14   Educational attainment of fishermen by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

2.15   Educational attainment of fishery employees by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

3.1   Fisherman households and fishery employee households by coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

3.2   Change in the number of members in fisherman and fishery employee households by coastal zone and sex, 1985 and 1995

3.3   Average size of fisherman and fishery employee households, 1985 and 1995

3.4   Changes in fisherman and fishery employee households by size of household and size of management, 1985 and 1995

3.5   Change in the proportion of marine capture and coastal aquaculture fishery households, 1985 and 1995

3.6   Changes in fisherman and fishery employee households by extent of dependence on fishery and size of management, 1985 and 1995

3.7   Changes in fisherman and fishery employee households by extent of dependence on fishery, type of activity and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

3.8   Fishery loan by source for marine capture fishery households and aquaculture households, 1985 and 1995

3.9   Participation in social activities by type of social activity group and size of management, 1985 and 1995

4.1   Census-recorded inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.2   Census-recorded commercial-scale inboard-powered fishing boats by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.3   Number of registered fishing boats by year and coastal zone, 1985–1995

4.4   Comparison of outboard-powered and inboard-powered fishing boats in the census and in the registration, 1985 and 1995

4.5   Comparison of the number of fishing boats census-recorded and registered by gross tonnage and coastal zone, 1995

4.6   Registered fishing boats by type of fishing method, 1985–1995

4.7   Inboard-powered craft by large-scale fishing gear and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.8   Inboard-powered craft by small-scale fishing gear and coastal zone, 1985 and 1995

4.9   Main fishing gear by type and size of fishing boats, 1995

Part II

2.1   Source of household drinking water, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.2   Treatment of household drinking water, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.3   Availability of toilets, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.4   Source of cooking fuel, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.5   Methods of rubbish disposal of the households, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.6   Household size in Sai Dang village and Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.7   Household size and number of household members in Sai Dang village, and Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.8   Age and sex structure of Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.9   Age by marital status, Sai Dang village, 1998

2.10   Age by marital status, Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.11   Level of education completed, Sai Dang village, 1998

2.12   Level of education completed, Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.13   Main occupation and employment status, Sai Dang village, 1998

2.14   Main occupation and employment status, Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.15   Secondary occupation and employment status, Sai Dang village, 1998

2.16   Secondary occupation and employment status, Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.17   Age and sex of heads of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.18   Main occupation and employment status of heads of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.19   Secondary occupation and employment status of heads of household. Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.20   Annual income of heads of household by community, 1997

2.21   Gross annual household income by community, 1997

2.22   Income sufficiency by household type, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province

2.23   Ability to save household income by type of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province

2.24   Borrowing by type of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province

2.25   Source of borrowing by type of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province

2.26   Amount of money borrowed by type of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province

2.27   Reason for borrowing by type of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province

2.28   Current debts of household by type of household, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

2.29   Nationality and religion by community, 1998

2.30   Language spoken at home by community, 1998

2.31   Fluency in spoken standard Thai by community, 1998

2.32   Number of live births by age of woman and community, 1998

2.33   Women's desired family size by age and community, 1998

2.34   Knowledge about family planning methods by community, 1998

2.35   Attitudes toward family planning by age group and community, 1998

2.36   Contraceptive methods ever used by community, 1998

2.37   Contraceptive methods in current use, Sai Dang village, 1998

2.38   Contraceptive methods in current use, Koh Maphrao village, 1998

2.39   Source of contraceptive by community, 1998

3.1   Main and secondary occupations of household members engaged in fishery activities by employment status, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.2   Age and sex of persons engaged in fishery, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.3   Age by education of persons engaged in fishery, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.4   Years engaged in fishery by age group, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.5   Availability of boats in fishery households, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.6   Boat length and horsepower, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, 1998

3.7   Boat length and horsepower, Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.8   Distance from coast to fishing grounds, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.9   Fishing gear, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.10   Problems mentioned first by persons engaged in fishery, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1997

3.11   Other problems mentioned by persons engaged in fishery, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1997

3.12   Annual net income from fishery in 1997, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.13   Total net annual income per household engaged in fishery in 1997, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.14   Fishery income in fishing households as percentage of total annual household income, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998

3.15   Women's role in fishery, Sai Dang village, Ranong province, and Koh Maphrao village, Phuket province, 1998