Illegal collapsible fishing traps, called ai ngo by local residents, are loaded onto a longtailed boat on Saturday in in Pak Phanang Bay off Nakhon Si Thammarat. (Photo: Nujaree Rakrun)NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: More than 300 illegal fishing traps were seized in Pak Phanang Bay in this southern province on Saturday, raising concerns about the depletion of marine resources. During a five-hour operation that lasted until 5am on Saturday, the team seized more than 300 of the collapsible traps, which are classified as destructive fishing gear. Local fishermen were earning more income, and the number of illegal fishing boats had dropped to about 500, said Mr Pornsak. However, the number of unlicensed fishing boats has since risen to 2,000 and many of them were fitted with illegal traps, he said.
