Thailand's fisheries boast roots that extend deep into history, spanning centuries. This was marked by the migration of overseas Chinese from coastal communities in China, stretching from Hainan Island northward to the Hokkien region (i.e., Fujian province).
Their arrival also brought unique boatbuilding skills and expertise, forming a crucial foundation for the development of marine fisheries in subsequent eras.
Thailand's modern marine fishing industry experienced a significant leap in growth after World War II, having been driven by several key factors that fundamentally altered traditional fishing practices.
These factors included the construction of larger vessels, enabling longer and more distant voyages; the adoption of engines to replace traditional sails, allowing for faster and more efficient vessel movement; and the introduction of large-scale and modern fishing gear, such as trawls and purse seines, leading to a massive increase in the volume of catches.
This was coupled with the use of fish finding equipment like sonar, sounders and fish finders, which superseded the sole reliance on the experience and skill of traditional boat captains.
Also, navigational equipment such as radar was adopted to aid in sailing during adverse weather conditions or at night, and crucially, refrigeration systems were introduced to preserve the quality of the caught seafood, allowing for longer storage times and transportation to distant markets.
This body of knowledge represented invaluable indigenous wisdom, harmoniously integrated with local environments and resources.
The result of these transformations was that fishing vessels could catch larger quantities of seafood, operate in more distant waters, and generate substantial profits, leading to an expansion in the number of fishing vessels for both domestic and international waters.
Domestic fishing reached its peak between 1972 and 1987, while international marine fishing flourished remarkably between 1992 and 2014.
The growth of the fishing industry also spurred the extensive development of supporting industries, including fish sauce factories, ice factories, fishmeal factories, cold storage facilities, seafood processing plants, and the production of fishing nets and various fishing equipment, as well as boatbuilding and repair yards for fishing vessels.
This then led to the expansion and export of aquatic products, including shrimp, shellfish, crabs and fish, thus driving Thailand's economy to prosperity, particularly in the coastal provinces.
Historically, the construction and repair of Thai fishing boats predominantly involved the use of hardwood. This practice is rooted in centuries of accumulated knowledge and experience passed down through generations, particularly from Chinese families who immigrated and settled in various coastal provinces, notably Samut Sakhon, Samut Songkhram, Samut Prakan, and Rayong.
These boatbuilders possessed specialised skills in selecting timber, assembling vessel structures, and designing boats suitable for diverse marine conditions and uses. This body of knowledge represented invaluable indigenous wisdom, harmoniously integrated with local environments and resources.
Addressing IUU fishing by focusing on controlling the number of vessels led to measures that directly impacted the indigenous knowledge of boatbuilding.
However, the approach to resolving the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing by the post-coup government, under the close supervision of the European Union (which lacked a genuine understanding of the Thai fishing industry) in 2015, has led to severe repercussions for the entire marine fishing economic ecosystem.
Thousands of fishing vessels were forced to dock, unable to operate, causing the entire production cycle and related businesses to stagnate and gradually disintegrate.
Addressing IUU fishing by focusing on controlling the number of vessels, based on the understanding that there were too many fishing vessels for the sea's capacity, led to measures that directly impacted the indigenous knowledge of boatbuilding.
Specifically, the grounding of thousands of vessels caused the Thai boat repair industry to come to a complete standstill, as there were no longer boats requiring maintenance.
Additionally, the prohibition on new boat construction led to the stagnation of the application and development of the unique knowledge possessed by boatbuilders. The centuries-old accumulated knowledge is gradually disappearing with the passing of older craftsmen who are no longer able to share their expertise to the younger generations.
Consequently, the once-thriving and unique indigenous knowledge of fishing boat construction in Thailand, a legacy of intellectual heritage passed down through generations, is facing a critical situation and is at a significant risk of collapse.
Without recognising its importance and finding ways to conserve and perpetuate this knowledge, this invaluable wisdom may be permanently lost, impacting not only Thailand's fishing industry, but also its culture and history.
Will we simply allow this tragedy to happen?