Conservation and Local Fisheries Project
Ban Pak Nam Pran, Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
With the Hope of Protecting and Responsibly Using the World’s Seas, Oceans, and Marine Conservation and sustainable use of the oceans, seas, and marine resources encompasses a wide range of initiatives, including but not limited to eradicating illegal fisheries and ending overfishing, safeguarding against the impacts of climate change, restoring marine and coastal ecosystems to their former fertility, and reducing pollution.
As an active participant in society, the Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation collaborates with public educational institutions and the Pak Nam Pran fishing farmer group in Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province (Beginning in 2020) to implement local fisheries conservation initiatives. These initiatives include the construction of blue crab banks and fish houses crafted from natural materials, with product processing serving as a model for self-sufficient, sustainable local fishing that prevents the establishment of long-term dams. A variety of resources are impacted by initiatives such as supporting projects to conserve and restore seagrass and restoring the diversity of marine ecosystems in order to replenish the abundance of Thailand’s marine ecosystem.
Project Goals
Drive local fisheries conservation work and encourage fishing farmers to increase economic value by “Elevating the Level to Community Business Entrepreneurs” by focusing on marine natural resource conservation and restoration, as well as participatory activities with network partners such as communities, educational institutions, the government, and the private sector in the conservation area.
Importance of the Project
Local fishing is a profession that generates income and benefits the community’s economy; however, “If fishing methods are not correct, it also destroys resources.” Thus, restoring a pathway that leads to the sustainable recovery of coastal resources through the restoration of local fisheries entails fostering community participation in conservation efforts and restoring resources to their maximum capacity.
Conservation and Local Fisheries Project
Ban Pak Nam Pran, Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province
THE FISHER FOLK WAY
Local Fishing Practice Conservation
Project with Goal Together and
U Volunteer Project
Local fishing practices is a way of living that has been intertwined with the lives of coastal communities for a long time. It is a valuable skill that is passed down from generation to generation, providing income and supporting the livelihoods of those living along the coast. However, due to advances in technology and the increase in commercial fishing, as well as fishing that uses illegal gears, the marine ecosystem on the coast has been adversely affected, causing a decline in the number of marine animals that once thrived. This has had an impact on the income of local fishermen. Many households have had to turn to other professions to make a living.
A group of fishermen in Pran estuary, Pak Nam Pran District, Pran Buri, Prachuap Khiri Khan, have been making a living out of fishing since their ancestors. When they noticed a declinein the number of marine animals, they came together to drive conservation efforts and foster cooperation among the people in the community to restore marine resources while findingways to generate income and boost the local economy in a sustainable way. Their goal is to revive the traditional fishing practices and preserve the marine ecosystem for the long run.
The Suthirat Yoovidhya notes the dedication of a group of fishermen who practice fishing in Pran estuary, and therefore support the improvement of the construction of nursery and
breeding ponds to be in a suitable condition, enough to hold the number of blue crab breeders deposited by the members. The foundation also supports the making of Sung or fish house made from natural decomposition materials (local artificial reef) and promotes the development
of products with the academic group through the U Volunteer project with the Silpakorn University (Petchburi IT campus) to process materials bought from fishermen in Pran estuary under SALANA PGS standards to control the quality of local fishing practice and processing, creating confidence for consumers in safe food and sustainable fishing practices that do not destroy the coastal marine environment. In addition, the foundation also invites Goal Together volunteers to learn about the conservation community and support sustainable conservation through the activity called, ‘Make Sung and Learn about the Blue Crab Bank at Pran Estuary’
to raise awareness, understanding, and communicate to the society further on.
Project Implementation
Project implementations in 2021 have changed the community’s work procedure in accordance with the government’s COVID-19 regulatory measures. The project implementations are as follows.
2.1 Implement the “Goal Together” Project
Due to governmental protocols aimed at mitigating the transmission of COVID-19, regular project operations are impeded. As a result, the operational plan has been modified to align with local activities by providing equipment support for the construction of fish aggregating device (FADs) (local artificial coral) for a collective of Pak Nam Pran fishing farmers. This fish aggregating device (FADs) (FADs) will be utilized to facilitate fish aggregating device (FADs) -making with the community, employing sustainable materials like bamboo and coconut sap, and manila hemp rope has been substituted for nylon rope (which was initially employed as the primary material for fish aggregating device (FADs) making). Manila hemp rope is a naturally occurring substance that performs similar functions.
In 2020 ( year 1), 100 fish aggregating devices (FADs) were placed, and 75 fish aggregating devices (FADs) were placed in 2021 (year 2) at four points within 3,000 meters of the coast in Pak Nam Pran Subdistrict, Pranburi District, Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. A follow-up planning visit was conducted in collaboration with a volunteer from the “Sustainable Volunteer Project” (Dr. Kajornyuth Bang Tha Mai), who had previously participated in the “Goal Together” project. Dr. Kajornyuth participated in the dive to collect ecological data in the aforementioned area. The vicinity of the nest was discovered to be inhabited by numerous organisms, including small fish, mollusks, sea barnacles, and aquatic animals, among others. Simultaneously, it was discovered that while certain nests that had been erected remained intact, others had succumbed to the forces of island coral and sea barnacles. It demonstrates that the project’s implementation can foster the development of a variety of coastal ecosystems in the Pak Nam Pran Subdistrict, provide a habitat for certain species of marine life, and establish a nursery area for small aquatic animals. These outcomes will have an impact on the long-term abundance of resources.
Additionally, manila rope was discovered to have a greater lifespan than bamboo buoys and coconut paths. Additionally, bamboo and coconut buoys decompose more rapidly and lose their utility than manila rope. Meanwhile, the undecomposed Manila hemp rope falls to the surface, providing habitat for small aquatic animals. This change aligns with the project’s goal of reducing microplastic contamination (Microplastic) in the sea.
In 2021, the Foundation provided funds of 600,000 baht to upgrade fishing farmers to community business entrepreneurs for the following operations.
1) The Suthirat Yoovidhya Foundation has conducted initiatives to aid in the comprehension and dissemination of organic agricultural standards, with a particular focus on the extent to which natural products can be harvested. Additionally, the foundation has collaborated on the development of regulations and conditions governing fishing that adhere to the organic farming standard requirements of SALANA PGS. In 2021, a standard certification determined that the Pak Nam Pran fishing farmer group had conducted its operations in accordance with the established criteria, including the use of lawful fishing equipment and the avoidance of chemical use when capturing aquatic organisms. As a result, it has obtained SALANA PGS organic farming certification for the collection of natural products. To further consumer confidence, it is intended that in 2022, information, inspection, certification, and certification of organic agricultural standards will be made available with regard to product processing.
2) Improving the structure of the Blue Crab Bank project’s blue crab breeding and deposition ponds by repairing damaged nursery ponds and returning them to full use, as well as depositing 8 blue swimming crab breeding ponds belonging to members. We also installed materials and equipment to improve management efficiency, such as tile floors to make it easier to clean and move the baby crabs into the sea, an oxygenator in the water to increase the oxygen in the crab pond, which affects the survival rate of the baby blue swimming crabs, packing room, and finished product storage area.
3) We have established a collaboration with a volunteer from the “Goal Together” project (Miss Wipa Mongkolsuk), who has continued to participate in the “Sustainable Volunteer Project,” which travels to community areas to provide knowledge, advice, and consultation on safe food production that meets the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) food production process requirements.
4) Establish the foundation for a community business entrepreneurial aspiration in conjunction with Silpakorn University (Phetchaburi Information Campus), which has conducted an on-site investigation of the community context, gathered data, and assessed the potential for utilization in three years to facilitate the transition from fishery farmers to community business entrepreneurs.
ซั้ง "ซั้ง" หรือ ปะการังเทียมพื้นบ้าน เป็นภูมิปัญญาชาวบ้านที่มีมาแต่อดีต เป็นเครื่องมือดึงดูดสัตว์น้ำให้มาอยู่รวมกันเป็นจำนวนมาก โดยการนำซั้งเชือก หรือทุ่นปะการังเทียมไปทิ้งไว้ในทะเล จะทำให้เกิดแหล่งอาศัย และแหล่งอนุบาลสัตว์น้ำขนาดเล็ก ทำให้เกิดความหลากหลายของนิเวศ และความสมบูรณ์ของทรัพยากรทางทะเล อีกทั้ง ชาวบ้าน ยังจะได้ประโยชน์ทางอ้อม คือ ช่วยป้องกันเรือประมงขนาดใหญ่ หรือเรือประมงพาณิชย์ มาทำการประมงในเขตน่านน้ำหวงห้ามได้อีกทางหนึ่งด้วย
รู้ไหมว่า เชือกปอมะนิลากับเชือกไนล่อนต่างกันอย่างไร ?
Project Implementation
2.1 Implement the “Goal Together” Project
Engaging community members and volunteers in the endeavor of conserving local fisheries for the initial year (2020) through the “Work Hard to Make Fish aggregating device (FADs), Learn about the Pak Nam Pran Blue Crab Bank” activity, which entails assembling and deploying fish aggregating device (FADs) in the conservation area and collaboratively generating the Master Plan to guide community development.
One hundred fish aggregating devices (FADs) were prepared and protected three kilometers from the coast in the first year of operation with the “Work Hard to Make Fish aggregating device (FADs), Learn about the Pak Nam Pran Blue Crab Bank” activity. This protected area is off-limits to the use of commercial fishing gear, illegal equipment, or equipment that does not comply with community agreements. Additionally, it provided farmer groups with a Master Plan that served as a blueprint for enhancing conservation potential and transitioning into community business entrepreneurs by 2021. More than one hundred Goal Together volunteers, members of the community, and government officials participated in the inaugural year of the initiative.
2.2 Organic Farming Education and Certification Project SALANA PGS
Assisting farmer groups in comprehending and collaboratively establishing conditions pertaining to fishing that are safe for consumption and devoid of environmental impact, this initiative also encompasses the development of community-based participatory certification processes.
2.3 Create a Capital Support Strategy for Helping Community Business Owners in 2021
We conducted a collaborative study with Silpakorn University (Phetchaburi Information Campus) in 2020 to examine the community’s potential context. Our objective was to develop a strategy that would transform the farmer group into a community enterprise. This strategy encompassed establishing a brand for product processing that adhered to hygienic standards, thereby facilitating the transition into the realm of full-fledged community business entrepreneurship.
