1.1 Overview

that catching, entrapping, luring, harming, or killing of every species of marine turtle and hawksbill turtles are strictly forbidden. If those turtles were caught as by-catch or accidentally trapped with any kinds of fishing equipment, they must be released immediately. Moreover, collecting and harming of marine turtle eggs of all species on all beaches are forbidden. According to section 60, declared by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives on the 16 April (1996), all shrimp trawls in the fishery areas have to be equipped with a Turtle Excluder Device (TED). This is for all fishermen using trawls in areas where marine turtles are residing, the attachment of TED or similar apparatus could potentially reduce marine turtle mortality. National Park Acts, B.E.2504 (1961) A Royal Decree has been declared to announce that 14 groups of islands have become National Parks. Thus, protecting marine turtles and their habitats. Sections 16 and 18 are good references for the decree, which raise several important points: Section 16 (2): Collecting or taking away resources by all means that could potentially harm or degrade qualities of wood, amber, rubber oil, pine oil, mineral, and other resources. Section 16 (3): Taking away or harming animals in any way