Lamom Bunyong lives only 15 kilometres from Map Ta Phut Industrial Port, Thailand’s largest petrochemical industrial zone. Now in his seventies, he has seen how the industry changed his hometown’s fishing community. One significant impact is the shrinking fishing zone around the industrial port. Recently the port’s area was extended by 1,000 rai (160 hectares).

On 2 December 2022, 30 representatives from local fishing communities in Rayong travelled to the Ministry of Industry in Bangkok. They demanded compensation of 100,000 baht (2,878 USD) for each affected fisherfolk, three times more than the authorities have offered.

They also demanded changes to the contract required to sign for the compensation. The agreement stipulates that fisherfolk can no longer take legal action or make other demands regarding the issue.

Read our story about the growing concerns of Thailand’s largest industry zone HERE

Source: กฤช ศิลปชัย – Krit Silapachai