| Author | Watcharaporn Tripanichkul |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.AQ-07-22 |
| Subject(s) | Trepang fisheries--Thailand--Yao Islands
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in pa1tial fulfillment of the requirements for the
degree of Master of Science in
Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Series Statement | Thesis ; no. AQ-07-22 |
| Abstract | The research on sea cucumber fishery was conducted in Yao Islands, Phang Nga, Thailand. Sea cucumber in Yao Islands support fishers as a secondary but an important source of income. Four species of sea cucumber i.e. Holothuria scabra, H. leucospilota, Bohadschia marmorata, Stichopus sp. are harvested by 24 fishers on Yao Islands. The highest value and primary target species is H. scabra. Three fishing methods are: hand collection at low tide, snorkeling, and trawling. The fishing season is from October to February in the seagrass beds and reef areas surrounding the islands with 20 hours monthly effort. The main processing steps are collection, degutting, boiling, skeletal ossicles removal, smoking and sun exposure. Three traders in Yao Yai Island and one on Phuket Island are collecting both fresh and processed sea cucumber from the fishers in Yao Islands and transfer the product to the dealers in Song Khla province. The problems reported by hand collection fishers are: 1) trawl net fishing; 2) low density of sea cucumber; 3) outsider fishers and 4) under pricing. From field survey and monthly catch data, MSY of H. scabra in a fishing season are estimated at 4,322 kg. While the actual total catch per fishing season is 12,860.4 kg, strongly suggesting the overfishing status. Key problems and constraints of sea cucumber fishery management are lack of regulations that directly manage this resource and the gap in related existing action. Thus, regulations such as size or catch limit, closed area or season must be developed together with providing alternative livelihood such as sea cucumber culture and hatchery. Key stakeholders of sea cucumber fishery are Department of Fisheries (DOF), Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), fishers, sea cucumber farmers, and traders. There is no clear conflict among stakeholders except between trawlers and collectors, but coordination between government agencies (DOF and DMCR) needs improvement as there are unclear responsibilities and overlapped actions between them that could confuse the fishers. Improvement in integration among stakeholders especially intergovernmental integration is the key to a successful sea cucumber fishery management. The responsibilities in sea cucumber fishery management should be agreed and shared among stakeholders. The fishers' awareness on sea cucumber and its habitats conservation and sustainable use is also needed. The survey on stock status, catch amount should be collected yearly and should cover whole habitats of all commercial species for monitoring the trends in stock size. |
| Year | 2007 |
| Corresponding Series Added Entry | Asian Institute of Technology. Thesis ; no. AQ-07-22 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (Former title: Department of Food Agriculture, and BioResources (DFAB)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Aquaculture and Aquatic Resources Management (AQ) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ikejima, Kou; |
| Examination Committee(s) | Gallardo, Wenresti G.;Bart, Amrit;Berg, Hakan; |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | The Royal Thai Government; |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2007 |