The chief-of-staff of the navy's Third Fleet has called on authorities in three provinces to join forces in conserving the ecology of the protected Phang Nga Bay area, which has suffered considerable damage from trawlers using fine-mesh and drag nets.

The Third Fleet was earlier assigned by the National Security Council to head suppression of illegal fishing and exploitation of marine resources in the upper Andaman Sea, covering Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga provinces.

While praising ongoing efforts toward the protection of marine life in the area, Rear Adm. Amornchote Sujirat said some groups still appeared to lack awareness of the situation.

Saen Sri-ngarm, the chief of a 100-strong task-force charged with cracking down on inshore fishing in the Andaman Sea, said over the past three months 70 illegal fishermen had been arrested and 69 trawlers impounded for violating a fishing ban in Phang Nga Bay.

The most damaging exploitation of marine life was taking place in the Khaothong area of Krabi province.