The Thai sea has been degrading with a significant decline of natural biodiversity from illegal fishing that destroyed sea floor areas – killing all marine life along its way. Commercial fishing also catches smaller fishes without differentiation resulting in the massive decline of fish stock. Irresponsible tourism operators drop anchors directly on reefs causing marine animals to lose their natural habitats. This negatively impacts the food security for millions of people living in coastal areas. Community-based fishery catches have declined 3 times in less than a decade according to government statistics.

The beauty and health of the Thai ocean will only be a thing of the past if nothing is done to halt and reverse this trend. Currently, the ocean health index of Thailand is 66 points, which is below a global average of 71 points. Furthermore, access to healthy seafood is affecting more than just people living next to the sea. A very large proportion of seafood from commercial fishing has chemical contamination, particularly the use of formalin to preserve the freshness of seafood sourced from deeper sea, creating a critical health risk among consumers worldwide.

However, there is a rising number of examples of how coastal communities are protecting the sea areas around their locations, particularly their beach fronts. Besides the use of artificial reefs to provide incubation and habitats for marine lives, communities are also declaring community-based marine protected areas with local government and fishery authority. Communities are issuing local regulations on sustainable fishery in their own areas, all while conserving and linking their sea areas with mangrove forest and sea grass areas. This diligent community work has resulted in the recovery of ocean health and beauty which, in turn, sustains  community fishery stocks and sustainable tourism.

Fisherfolk community networks have successfully created community-based marine protected areas in many areas, such as;

Tar sa la, Nakornsrithammsarat province.

The fisherfolk community group here  implemented local regulation on coastal and sea natural resource management with the local government. The regulation prevents illegal fishing gear and bans the use of all sea-floor rakes (mostly for clam poaching). The group is active in conservation and restoration efforts including; using nature-based artificial reefs, creating crab banks, as well as monitoring and stopping commercial fishing boats from entering the protected areas.

Baan Pak Nam, Satun province

In Satun, 7 local communities have come together to implement conservation-based sustainable fishery practices. They campaigned against destructive fishery equipment and created fish homes with artificial reefs. Additionally, they developed an MOU between communities, local government officials and fishery authorities, as well as local fishery companies to protect the surrounding sea areas by declaring fishery limits around the artificial reefs areas based on carrying capacity methodology.

The success of the effort not only improved the livelihood and natural resources, but also provided successful evidence for the local government to develop a medium and longer term plan with budget allocation to support the local ocean conservation efforts.

These examples and many more are clear evidence of how local fisherfolk communities are taking the role as protector and caretaker of the ocean, monitoring illegal and destructive fishing vessels and not allowing them to enter their protected areas. This movement directly addresses the global effort of protecting 30% of ocean areas as well. Therefore, the Thai Sea Watch Association, is serving as a key partner to many fisherfolk communities in their conservation and sustainable fishery efforts. Together they are developing the community-based marine protected areas fund to scale and spread such conservation models across the Thai coastal areas, with at least 5 more areas in 2023. The working list consists of Baan Lompune in Satun province, Baan Satang in Patalung province, Baan Kohloi in Nakornsrithammarat provinc, Baan Nature in Songkla province as well as Baan Tungnoi in Prachuap Khiri Khan Pprovince.

Project overall work plan:

1. Organize meetings and training for fisherfolk community groups on developing and managing community-based marine protected areas.
2. Collaboratively design local rules and regulations on common-pool natural resource management that aligns with local context and community knowledge and insights.
3. Organize community-based conservation efforts, particularly on marine animals, that fit with local landscape and community readiness.
4. Design communication conservation strategy and programs for local implementation.
5. Support economic activities around community-based sustainable fishery in the areas.
6. Develop partnership with local marine-focused academic institutions to support the communities with knowledge and ecological impact measurement processes.