National Fisheries Day in Thailand Date in the current year: September 21, 2024

Since Thailand is a peninsular country with a long coastline, fish and aquatic animals have historically been an importance source of animal protein for its population. The present-day fishing industry of Thailand encompasses aquaculture, wild fisheries, and recreational fishing.

Thailand’s fishing industry includes two types of aquaculture: freshwater aquaculture and brackish water aquaculture. The most important freshwater fish species farmed in Thailand are catfish, Nile tilapia, and silver barb, while the brackish water aquaculture mostly focuses on the cultivation of Asian green mussels and giant tiger prawns.

Aquaculture constitutes a little over 30% of the total fish production in Thailand; the rest is produced by inland and marine capture fisheries. The two most important species produced by inland capture fisheries are Nile tilapia and silver barb, while marine capture fisheries produce anchovies, short mackerels, bigeye scads, round scads, threadfins, small tuna, shellfish, squids, Venus clams, and blue swimmer crabs.

The Thai fishing industry faces a number of challenges such as the over-exploitation of marine fish resources, increasing levels of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices and equipment that result in the deaths of marine animals, and labor abuses in the fishing industry. The Department of Fisheries and other relevant institutions are working together to overcome these challenges.

The history of Thailand’s Department of Fisheries can be traced back to 1901, when the country’s government first took an interest in fisheries management, primarily as a source of tax revenue. On September 22, 1921, a royal proclamation was issued, entrusting the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture with responsibility for aquaculture, aquatic animals preservation, and fishing regulation.

On September 21, 1926, the Department of Aquatic Animal Conservation within the Ministry of Lands and Agriculture was created. It was renamed the Department of Fisheries in 1933. At some point, the Department of Fisheries was combined with the Department of Agriculture to form the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. However, they were separated again after a couple of years. The main task of the Department of Fisheries is to promote the Thai fishing industry while ensuring the sustainability of wild fisheries and aquaculture.

National Fisheries Day was established in 1982 to support the Thai fishing industry, highlight the contribution of Thai fishermen, and encourage them to further pursue their careers. The holiday was originally celebrated on April 13, coinciding with Songkran (Thai New Year), but its date was moved to September 21 in 2006 to commemorate the founding anniversary of the Department of Fisheries. National Fisheries Day events include the release of difficult-to-breed fish and aquatic animals, exhibitions, trade fairs, various contests and competitions, and more.