Trawlers illegally fish near Thai coast

BANGKOK, December 14 (TNA) - Several fishermen have been arrested on charges of illegally fishing and using heavy equipment near the coast of Thailand's upper southern Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. According to local marine police,the fishermen were nabbed after they were found illegally fishing and using heavy fishing equipment some three nautical miles off the coast in Prachaup Khiri Khan's Hua Hin and Pran Buri Districts, causing heavy damages to local marine resources. A unit of marine police has been, thus, patrolling in Hua Hin, while two others in Pran Buri, but there are still many illegal trawlers which have escaped arrest because they are using a high efficiency of engines. In another incident, wildlife conservation officials in Si Sa Ket Province in the Thai Northeast, bordering Cambodia, have apprehended three Cambodian men and charged them of illegally cutting and smuggling Payun wood, or Siamese rosewood, out of Thailand. The officials reported that the three Cambodian men were apprehended some 7.3 kilometres deep inside Thailand in Khun Han District, adding that they also seized a saw, an axe and a quantity of Payun wood allegedly in their possession. According to the officials, the trio said during an investigation that they had crossed into Thailand three days ago and were promised to receive 300 baht per kilogramme of Payun wood by an undisclosed buyer at the Cambodian border. Thailand has banned exports of Payun wood and encourages the private sector to grow the trees for exports.(TNA)