Thailand has been placed in the top ten fisheries production countries in the world in marine capture fisheries. However, increasing demand for protein sources, together with the rapid development and improvement of fishing gear and fishing techniques has resulted in major stock reduction of the Indo- Pacific mackerel and some other commercially important pelagic species in the Gulf of Thailand (GoT). Therefore, the Department of Fisheries Thailand (Thai-DoF) planned to establish fisheries refugia or closed seasons and areas in some part of the Gulf of Thailand and prohibit some kinds of fishing gear. The DoF monitored the changes in status of aquatic resources and also the fishing methods with the aim at determining appropriate measures from time to time for sustainable use  of pelagic species. In the past 60 years (1953-2013), Thai-DOF implemented a total of 13 fisheries management measures on the development of fishing gears and fishing techniques including “Gulf Closing” in the southern areas (Prachaup Khiri Khan, Chumphon, and Surat Thani) with the aim of conserving spawning and nursery areas of aquatic resources in the GoT. The measures for conserving Indo- Pacific mackerel were also used as a basis for formulation and development of other conservation measures. Cancellation and revision of these measures were also made from time to time according to the change of status of fisheries resources, and to effectively manage aquatic resources for sustainable exploitation.

Fisheries refugia, closed seasons and areas, Gulf of Thailand.