. Commercial fisheries review. Fisheries; Fish trade. 61 Thailand TRENDS IN THE FISHERIES Fish are a major part of the Thai diet. The local annual catch amounts to over 700,000 nnetric tons. Individual fishermen, however, earn only marginal incomes. An estimated 90 percent of the fishermen work alone and make subsistence catches. A few small cooperative ventures have at most 2 or 3 boats averaging 20 gross tons. Influential Chinese Traders The fishing community consists of about 80,000 families who m a in t a in about 5,000 boats ranging from 10 to 50 tons. The catches are bought from the boat
. Commercial fisheries review. Fisheries; Fish trade. 61 Thailand TRENDS IN THE FISHERIES Fish are a major part of the Thai diet. The local annual catch amounts to over 700,000 nnetric tons. Individual fishermen, however, earn only marginal incomes. An estimated 90 percent of the fishermen work alone and make subsistence catches. A few small cooperative ventures have at most 2 or 3 boats averaging 20 gross tons. Influential Chinese Traders The fishing community consists of about 80,000 families who m a in t a in about 5,000 boats ranging from 10 to 50 tons. The catches are bought from the boats by 13 ma- jor Chinese traders. The traders are influ- ential because they actually finance the en- tire fishing industry. The capital turnover of each of the 13 fish wholesalers is more than 10 miUion baht (US$475,000). But the whole- salers still are not willing to finance improve- ments in the fleet; the only industry in which they would invest is fish MJ^ Buying fresh fish. (Photo: FAO) Old Methods Used The Thai are not seamen by tradition or inclination. Local fishermen are not very in- terested in deep-sea fishing, large boats, and electronic gear. They are not especially eager to learn modern techniques of commercial fishing. More sophisticated equipment, such as electronic devices and larger boats, are used only by the Government for research purposes. Japanese Start Training School The Japanese Government recently opened a fishermen's training school in Thailand. The school started with two, 400-ton, fully equip- ped vessels that can each accommodate 50 students and several Japanese technical ad- visers. Today, few Thai fishermen have any concept of sonar and other fish-finding equip- ment. Likewise, fishing boat builders prefer traditional methods and equipment. School Could Change Things After the Japan-sponsored school operates for a while, and new ideas get back to more fishermen in the villages, there may be changes in Thai attitudes and methods, Ade
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