PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN, 10 June 2015 – Local fishermen and environmentalists gathered at the City Hall of Prachuap Khiri Khan Province to urge their governor to disallow the fishing of comb pen shells.
The villagers, armed with banners denouncing the fishing of comb pen shells, demanded that related agencies help solve their hardships by imposing a ban on comb pen shell hunt which is posing a threat to the environment and their livelihood.
They said hundreds of fishermen from nearby provinces did cause extensive damage to the marine conservation zone by digging up comb pen shells which live in sand. Hunters normally cut off the shells’ muscles which will be sold to markets. Their remaining parts will be dumped and left to decompose in the sea, leading to pollution. Their shell scraps are also said to have damaged locally-made fishing tools.
The villagers have called on authorities to announce provincial regulations to outlaw the fishing of comb pen shells in Prachuap Khiri Khan as the sustainable solution. The residents also appointed representatives from each village to discuss the matter with provincial body later on
