It is highly possible that with the extensive available areas for development, rapid increase in production can be attained if the industry is given proper support. Unless adequate provisions are made to take care of the increased production in terms of marketing and distribution facilities or proper processing of the products, temporary overproduction may result. Likewise, overproduction of one or two of the species while underproduction of others may occur which may be due to the prevailing weather conditions or sudden pollution in production areas. These occurrences may cause imbalance in the supply of shellfish commodities.
The information on the methods of processing and utilization of shellfish products is very limited. There is a need of a national as well as regional survey of present methods of processing and utilization of this commodity. Upon this study will be based possibilities of improving the techniques as well as the introduction of utilization methods employed in other countries. Such processing could be particularly useful to products which may be alloted for export. An important aspect of the product development of shellfish is sanitary and quality control. This will determine the acceptability of the products both for local consumption as well as for export.
Properly supported, shellfish production can increase rapidly in the coastal areas of Thailand. Serious consideration in locating market outlets for shellfish products should be given attention in the programme. Infrastructure in the form of facilities for distribution are not presently available. Foreign markets for the expanded production of shellfish commodities can constitute an important source of foreign exchange, but this aspect has not been adequately explored. On the other hand, diversification in the utilization of shellfish within the country has to be given more attention.
The inherent habit of many Southeast Asian peoples of establishing settlements on stilts along the coast has contributed in the lessening and rapid deterioration of available areas for shellfish production. In some instances, actual reclamation of areas for housing and also for industries have also been detrimental. The rapid increase in industrial plants within recent years in the coastal areas of Thailand has affected adversely many shellfish production grounds in the country. Increased silting and sedimentation due to land development works along the coast especially in the deltaic areas of the main river systems have caused a shrinkage in the major shellfish grounds in the country.
The granting of shellfish sites for exclusive use by private shellfish farmers is vested in the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, through the Provincial Council where the particular site is located. This is in accordance with Section 7 of the Fisheries Act B.E. 2490 (1947). The present practice starts with the filing of an application to the local fishery office and subsequently this is endorsed to the Office of the Provincial Governor and on the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives through the Department of Fisheries. This Department conducts a technical evaluation of the site and recommends approval or rejection of the application to the Minister who then returns this to the Provincial Governor for subsequent release or retention of an area applied for. A fee of Baht 100/ha/year is charged. This is a very tedious and roundabout process and will require a lot of time before a shellfish farmer can establish a right to an area. This procedure needs to be streamlined and systematized to bring about quick and prompt action on applications for shellfish farming. In addition, there are instances where conflicts of interest between shellfish farming and other development sectors may arise. In these instances, prompt action by designated agencies should be done, keeping in mind the greatest good for the greatest number. For instance, conflicts may arise with pond culture development, small-scale fishing operators, small boat navigation along the coast, reclamation for housing and industries. In special instances, some shellfish areas may be located along tin-mining grounds or mangrove-forest conservation areas.
The Department of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has recently established a Brackishwater Fisheries Division, which includes among its duties, the development of shell fisheries. The Division is constituted with two technical sections, the Aquaculture Research Section and the Aquaculture Survey Section, and it supervises eight brackishwater fisheries stations and substations along the coastal provinces of Thailand (Fig. 1). This Division can function to promote the shell fisheries of the country through effective extension, training and promotion of development. The organizational set-up of the Department of Fisheries and that of the Brackishwater Fisheries Division are shown (Figures 7 and 8).
