THAILAND (REUTERS) - Thailand on Tuesday (Nov 15) sank the last batch of illegal fishing boats off the coast of Phetchaburi province to tackle the problem of overfishing and to encourage coral growth.

The eight boats on Tuesday were the last batch of 48 illegals trawlers the Thai government said it paid for and obtained during operations.

The boats were illegally operated and owners of the trawlers were not willing to change their fishing equipment on the boats.

There are also 197 illegal fishing boats that have been granted loans from the government to renovate and change their fishing tools from illegal nets to legal fishing methods.