Traditional fishing lifestyle in south Thailand under threat

Idling on the muddy sands of Thailand’s coastal deep south, fishing boats hand-painted in lurid primary colours languish while their owners look on helplessly.

Traditional fishing, once a thriving industry in southern Pattani and Yala provinces, has been reduced to a dwindling niche activity as fishermen lose out to large commercial firms and soaring fuel prices.

The troubles in the industry compound the problems faced in this mainly Muslim region, where separatist unrest has claimed more than 3,300 lives in the last four years, with no resolution in sight.

AFP