Walailak University closely joins Forces with NGOs to organize the Stewardship Program on Marine Resource Recovery and Creating Online Teaching Media
Walailak University collaborates with NGOs, namely the Federation of Thai Fisher Folk Association and the Thai Sea Watch Association, to organize an ongoing stewardship program in recovering marine resources and provide knowledge on ocean stewardship issues, e.g., the protection of aquatic animals of a size that is smaller than that prescribed by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, sustainable fishing practices, overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and destructive fishing practices. Moreover, the university and those NGOs supported the students of Walailak University in organizing a student volunteering program titled “Releasing Young Blue Crabs to the Thai Sea” to raise awareness of the sustainable use of marine. resources supporting SDG 14: Life Below Water.
The university and the NGOs also jointly discussed the best practices for sustainable marine resource management, explored the marine resources in the sea to assess the diversity of marine life, and designed artificial fish houses as safe havens for aquatic species, which help to restore the marine ecosystem and sustainability.
Besides the student volunteering program conduction, in order to raise awareness and provide knowledge for the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, the university collaborated with those NGOs to create a video as an educational resource about the sustainable use of marine resources. Now, the educational video is uploaded on YouTube with the aim to do public relations to build awareness about catching aquatic animals of a size that is smaller than that prescribed by the Ministry, sustainable fishing practices, overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, and destructive fishing practices. More importantly, the media was awarded “The Best Creative Media for the Natural Resource and Environment Conservation” by the National Research Council of Thailand. To watch the video, please visit https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8P0AzUVHP1lLA1FoMPGdRA/videos
