DRIVE IN NET

            It was originally a tradition gear from Okinawa where it is called muro-ami. In 1951, some Thai fishermen learnt the technique from their Japanese colleagues operating in Southeast Asians waters, and began using the gear by fishermen in Samut Prakarn, Chonburi and Phuket. The results, however, were disappointing, particularly in the Gulf. Eventually, only one set of drive in net has remained in operation, at Ravai fishing village at Phuket. The gear is still known as “Japanese net” (Uan Yee Poon). It is used for catching yellowtail fusiliers which the Thais call “Japanese fishes” (Pla Yee Poon)

FISHING GEAR AND METHODS

Drive in net

            The gear consists of a bag-net and two wings.  The bag-net is 26.5 m long and has an opening of 18.2 x 6.8 m.  The materials are nylon, and polyethylene at the cod-end and the front flap.  The wings are 140 m long rectangular polyethylene nets, 50 mm mesh-size.

            The fishing operation is carried out by 20-25 men, using one mother boat and four long-tail boats.  The net is set at the sea bottom, the mouth of the bag-net facing the current.  The fish are driven into the net by 8-10 fishermen who swim around and shake a rope to which iron rings and palm leaves are attached at 1.5 m intervals, and another six men who dive to the bottom and hit iron rings against rocks.  The divers breath through pipes connected to a compressor on board the fishing boat.

            This method of fishing is suitable for rocky bottom areas around islands, in water depth from 5 to 20 meters.  Fishing can be done outside the monsoon season, when the sea is calm.  In the Andaman Sea this happens between November and April.  The best fishing time of the month is during neap tide.