WU Organized Events Promoting Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of the Oceans and River
In 2022, Walailak University hosted and cooperated in various events, emphasizing conserving and utilizing the ocean, seas, lakes, rivers, and other marine resources. Also, these events promote stakeholder involvement in supporting the conservation and sustainable use of these resources. The events included the following:
1.The events aimed to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of oceans.
Walailak University hosted the “Amazing Crab Feeders at Koh Phangan” from January 7 to 9, 2022, at the Sunset Walk, Ban Tai Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province. This event aimed to promote the maintaining and conserving of the marine ecosystem sustainably. Various organizations and individuals, including the general public, the youth, students, and international tourists, participated in the event over three days, totaling 2,167 people. This event was live–streamed via Facebook Live, which has 12,564 views. Within the event, there was an exhibition aimed at promoting the conservation of oceans and the sustainable utilization of marine resources. The exhibition highlighted practices, such as not catching small fish and 10 cm lower–in–size crabs. In addition, this event has a variety of activities, including conservation discussions, legally sourced processed seafood, and local product stalls. Musical performances are performed to add vibrancy and attention to the general public and tourists on Koh Phangan Island.
WU collaborated with the community network to organize the “2nd Amazing Crab Feeders at Nakhon Si Thammarat” event, which took place from January 22 to 23, 2022, at Central Nakhon Si. The event featured stalls selling legally sourced seafood products and processed food, fresh seafood products from legal fishing, with a total of 35,200 visitors. Various activities were held to create an entertaining atmosphere for event participants. Mr. Trairat Chairat, the Deputy Governor of Nakhon Si Thammarat was the chair of the opening ceremony.
Additionally, various organizations participated in the event, such as Nakhon Si Thammarat Fisheries Provincial Office, Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Administration Organization, Office of Provincial Commercial Affairs Nakhonsithammarat, The NST Chamber of Commerce, Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Agriculture and Cooperatives Office, Ministry of Tourism & Sports Office of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Nakhon Si Thammarat Office, Nakhon Si Thammarat Municipality, and other mass media. The event featured discussions on marine conservation and resource management, and a diversity of conservative exhibitions.
Furthermore, Walailak University, in collaboration with the Koh Samui Municipality Office, Tourism Association of Koh Samui, and Royal Thai Honorary Consulate Association, organized an event on marine resource conservation for ambassadors from 21 countries who came to stay and attend meetings in the area of Koh Samui. During this event, Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee delivered a lecture on marine conservation and marine resource management, as well as strategies for revitalizing marine resources and environmental systems for the 120 participants.
2. The event aimed to promote the conservation and sustainable utilization of river and freshwater resources.
Walailak University, in collaboration with stakeholders, organized activities to conserve the river in the university’s vicinity. WU and volunteers cooperated in cleaning the river and throwing out solid waste. The discussions on river conservation were held by the collaboration to ensure the sufficiency of water that met the high-quality water standard.
Moreover, WU organized the water source conservation collaborating with the communities, especially the headwaters community. Thus, the university held the check dam building activity to preserve and retain the freshwater ecosystem and creatures.
3. The events aimed to enhance fishery stock and marine resources: Releasing baby crabs to sustain the marine blue swimming crab population.
In 2022, in association with 85 coastal fishing communities, Walailak University covering 12 Districts in Nakhon Si Thammara and Surat Thani areas operate the marine and coastal resource restoration events. The Center for Academic Services, Walailak University, with cooperation from government agencies such as the Department of Fisheries, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, private agencies such as Muang Thai Life Assurance Public Co., and Thai Frozen Foods Association, jointly organized the events of releasing the berried female blue crab and young blue crabs returned to the sea. It’s the direct support through actions to restore marine resources and ecosystems; such events are held on important days such as World Ocean Day, World Environment Day, Thai Father’s Day, Thai Mother’s Day, and other days. The crab restoration has been conducted from 2018-2022 and continually in 2023. The result of this project is an increase in the catch rate of local fishermen from 5 kg to 10 kg per day. The releasing of baby crabs into the ocean events engaged participation in all sectors, including the fishing community, the youth, students, Thai and international tourists, and
Besides, WU held events for enhancing ecosystem services, such as building artificial habitats for fish and cleaning beaches. To organize the events, WU has invited many sectors, including fishermen, coastal communities, students, the youth, and other stakeholders, to participate in the conservation event to emphasize the awareness to both use and protect oceans and marine resources.
Additionally, the Marine Conservation Club is a club founded by students from the School of Marine Science in 1997. The club’s mission is to continually support and organize various types of activities and events for the protection of the environment, marine resources, and ecosystems. In 2022, the club organized events to raise awareness among students and staff on the reduction of marine waste for sustainability such as the events for collecting plastic waste on the Tha Sala shores, and local beaches near Walailak University. The club organized an event to collect waste on the seashore with stakeholder participation such as residents, the students of Walailak University, the Sub-district Administrative Organization, and NGOs.
Goal 14: Life below water
Goal 4: Quality education
Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals