Pattaya City buys crabs to boost marine life, supports fishermen

Pattaya City has launched an innovative project to support local fishermen and conserve marine life by purchasing low-grade blue swimming crabs and releasing them into the mangrove forest in Na Kluea.

The initiative involves paying 250 baht per kilogramme to fishermen, aiming to balance ecological preservation with community income generation.

The Natural Resources Division, Environmental Quality Promotion Division, and the Natural Resources and Environment Office have collaborated on a nature restoration project set for the fiscal year 2024. This project focuses on restoring ecosystem completeness and promoting ecotourism.

Blue swimming crabs were released at the Lan Pho community fishing pier on Tuesday, July 30, as part of this conservation effort. The activity not only contributes to nature restoration but also boosts ecotourism in the area.

Ban Na Kluea, the site of Pattaya’s last remaining mangrove forest, is a critical tourist attraction. Recognising its importance, Pattaya City actively supports the preservation of this unique ecosystem.

The city acquires small and immature blue swimming crabs from the Model Fisheries Group in Ban Na Kluea at a market rate of 250 baht per kilogramme. This initiative not only helps conserve local marine species but also supports the livelihoods of fishing communities, reported Pattaya News.

Prasert Jindadi, Head of the Natural Resources Department, highlighted the initiative’s positive impact.

“This project exemplifies how thoughtful actions can harmonise environmental conservation and community well-being.”

In related news, Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga province is sounding the alarm and calling on the public to donate shells to provide new homes for hermit crabs. This urgent campaign aims to boost the crab population and enhance marine biodiversity.

Hermit crabs are vital beach cleaners, eliminating bacteria and disease to maintain the park’s ecosystem. Due to their soft exoskeletons, they rely on discarded shells for protection from predators.

In other news, efforts to protect rare marine species along the Andaman Sea have intensified, with new aerial surveys revealing the presence of dugongs, sea turtles, and dolphins, highlighting a thriving marine ecosystem.