8. Pollution Control and Sustainable Fishery Management in Southern Songkhla Lake, Thailand

This study explored resource-usage policy recommendations for sustainable fishery in Songkhla Lake, Thailand. The investigation began with problem recognition: decreasing fishery production. The profile of the existing usage and the economic value of the lake were identified and demonstrated in the study through a simplified conceptual model. The model illustrated the economic aspect of the ecosystem using theoretical and hypothetical concepts together with the available information. The policy options were specified next, after understanding the actual situation, using stakeholders’ opinions and expert judgment. The policy options concerning the management of the better level of water quality control were the first priority. By selecting appropriated criteria (public acceptability, legal feasibility, implementation complexity, effectiveness, capital costs, operating costs, transaction costs, impacts, equity, and decentralization), the analysis and evaluation were conducted under three alternative policy options, namely, the command and control system, emission charge system, and tradable discharge permit system. The results of this study are valuable for policy recommendations that aim to maintain fishery production on a sustainable level. In addition, the outcome is useful for understanding the general situation of resource exploitation in Songkhla Lake.