Reusing Old Shrimp Ponds for GAP-based Tilapia Aquaculture

In 2022, Walailak University in cooperation with the Nakhon Si Thammarat Provincial Fisheries Office, The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (Thailand), organized a program to support farmers improving aquaculture standard to meet the GAP criteria, standing for “Good Agricultural Practice”. This program aims to verify that the process of Tilapia aquaculture reduces risks of microbial hazards by using sustainable farming methods.

Walailak provided training covered 4 pillars of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) which are Economic Viability, Environmental Sustainability, Social Acceptability, and Food Safety and Quality. Also, WU scientists educated farmers about awareness to reduce impact of aquaculture to ecosystem, water treatment system and the related law such as do not allow children to work in aquaculture sector.  Currently, Farmers apply GAP knowledge to culture Tilapia in old shrimp ponds. Several projects were invested in Pak Prak Village, located in Pak Phanang District, Nakhon Si Thammarat. Thus, this program towards good aquatic stewardship practice is environmentally, economically beneficial for farmers in Nakhon Si Thammarat.