The latest border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia is disrupting livelihoods of fishermen in Trat Province of Thailand, even far from the front lines.
As tensions flare along the Thai–Cambodian border, the Royal Thai Navy has ordered a temporary suspension of fishing in Trat Province, grounding local fishermen as tensions spill from land into Thailand’s eastern waters. Naval patrols now crisscross familiar fishing grounds, and once-routine routes have become potential flashpoints.
For Trat's coastal communities, the economic toll is immediate.
"Since the recent outbreak of clashes along the Thai–Cambodian border, security officials have introduced measures asking for cooperation to prevent fishing boats from going out to sea. This group of people has been affected -- they can’t go out to earn income. We’re concerned about this as fishermen have no income, yet they still have debts," said Attpol Arunwuttipong, secretary of the Trat Chamber of Commerce.
Local fishermen said that for them, fishing is not just a livelihood, but a daily economy. Along the pier, the change is unmistakable. Piers that once throbbed with pre-dawn shouts, and the thud of fresh catch now sit eerily silent.
"The number of fishing boats has decreased by about 40–50 percent compared to before [the outbreak of the conflict]. The current situation is that only around 10 local boats remain, just circulating in and out. The labor force has also disappeared, with about 60–70 percent returning to their hometowns," said Pakdee Siri, who works at a fishing pier.
The restrictions and the conflict are also rippling through Trat's local markets. Vendors who normally lay out rows of fresh fish, squid and crabs now have little to sell, or nothing at all. Their customers are also all gone -- to evacuation shelters, or just too scared to leave their houses.
"There are no customers. I bring in shrimp but can't sell them. From selling almost 100 kilograms a day, it’s now down to just about 20 kilograms. If there is no shrimp, this market would have almost nothing to sell. There’s no fish either, because the boats aren’t allowed to go out, so there's nothing," said Srinual Saowanee, a seafood vendor.
Border clashes between the two sides reignited on Dec 7, less than two months after the two sides signed a joint peace declaration, with both sides trading the blame for instigating the attacks.
Border tensions harm fishermen's livelihoods in Thai province
