Author: Krittayot Ritthijak

Coastal area is a dominantly share ecosystem for all. In this area there are many species of Marine fish and shellfish which are important sources of protein and income, through fisheries, for the number of people in Thailand, particularly those who live along the coastlines. It is recognized that, nowadays, marine fishery resources, especially the Blue swimming crab (BSC), have become depleted due to high fishing pressure. The BSC is one of the most economic species of fishery industries in Thailand and is exported worldwide, with Thailand being the fifth largest exporter. Hence, the reduction in the abundance of this shellfish inevitably affects the fishers and all the supply-chain sectors, which eventually affects the country's GDP from fishery products.Walailak University (WU) is located in Nakhon Si Thammarat, and the academic…

The 6 year projects, studying fishery biology, society, economy, and the ecosystem related to blue swimming crab rehabilitation in Bandon Bay that complies with the Fishery Improvement Program: FIP was the research led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Acting Director of the Center for Academic Service, Walailak University. It was considered the best project by the Agricultural Research Development Agency and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Thailand in 2024.The goal was to strengthen the fishing sector by cooperating with public organizations and private sectors, such as Walailak University, Ubon Ratchathani University, Kasetsart University, Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya Trang Campus, Rambhai Barni Rajabhat University, Department of Fisheries, Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Hydro-Informatics Institute, Thai Frozen Foods Association, the exporters of blue swimming crab, World Wide Fund…

Walailak University is located near the essential marine ecosystem areas. The university has monitored the health of aquatic ecosystems in the nearby zones, including the Kra Island Ecosystem, Phuket coastal and offshore ecosystem, and Coastal and marine ecosystem in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where Walailak University is located. WU considered that the health of the aquatic ecosystem is important to monitor. Also, the health of the ecosystem should consist of biological, chemical, and physical monitoring. Appropriated technologies are used for monitoring processes. Several techniques and activities were done in 2024 as detailed below.1. Monitoring the health of aquatic ecosystems of Bandon Bay by Using GIS and Remote Sensing.Bandon Bay, a large watershed area, is located near Walailak University. From 2018 until 2022, 2023 and 2024. WU researcher received research scholarship from…

In 2024, 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, 2024, 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…

Every years, Walailak University in cooperation with the Fisheries Office of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) such as Association of Thai Fisherfolk Federation, also with support from the National Research Council of Thailand and The Agricultural Research Development Agency (Public Organization) organized outreach activities to raise awareness about overfishing and sustainability among  the participation of local fishermen, commercial fishermen, students and the young population from Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani provinces. In 2024, the educational outreach activities operated under the project of the research and academic services for Blue swimming crab restoration based on international fishing standards (Fishery improvement project: FIP). It was a course consisting of a size-catch number of aquatic animals, not using illegal fishing gears to protect long-term ecosystem sustainability, in line with the…

The Center for Academic Service Walailak University, which is led by Assist. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, the fishery science expert, has organized several training outreach programmes to educate practitioners such as fishermen, fishery staffs and those involved in applying knowledge for fishery resources management such as restoration, aquaculture, maintaining ecosystem, diversity and sustainable fishery etc. WU worked closely with the Department of Fisheries, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, and local NGOs, such as Thai Sea Watch association and Federation of Thai Fisher Folk Association, to regularly organize free activities in 2024, as portrayed below:1.WU organized training activities to educate fishery lovers who related to using and managing fishery resources, such as fishermen, fishery biologist from fishery department and fishery stakeholders, on sustainable fisheries utilization, including the suitable catching…

Walailak University has been establishing partnerships with NGOs to tackle global challenges in various areas, including climate change, inequality, the economic crisis, food and water insecurity, environmental problems, and others. WU believes that establishing collaboration or networking can have greater impacts on society and the environment.The university has been engaging with NGOs, namely the Federation of Thai Fisher Folk Association, the Thai Sea Watch Association, the Hua Sai Local Fishery Association, and the Ban Nai Thung Local Fishery Association, to collaboratively conduct research projects and organize outreach projects for marine resource rehabilitation and raise awareness for Thai society on marine resource conservation, promoting sustainable fishery practices, unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fishing practices, and other issues relating to marine stewardship. One of the predominant projects is the Blue Crab Bank…

The Fishery Improvement Project is a one-stop shop for information on the progress of global fishery improvement projects. It makes tracking progress more efficient, consistent, and reliable for businesses that support sustainable fishery improvement projects. Since 2017, Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Walailak University, has cooperated with national and international organizations to implement the “Thai Blue Swimming Crab Fishery Improvement Project”. The project has been conducted with international collaboration from the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Marine Resources Assessment Group (MREG), and the NFI Crab Council (United States). The project aims to analyze the best practices for fishery improvement of blue swimming crab management and review all comparative approaches to tackle each indicator of measurable improvement. The measurable improvement that is used to assess the project includes sustainable…

WU’s Researcher Establishes National and International Partnerships to Mobilize Thai Fishery Towards Sustainability In 2024, Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee, Director of the Center for Academic Services (National partner) and Lecturer of the School of Marine Science, was appointed by the Department of Fisheries (National Partner) as a member of the Technical Committee on the Assessment for Sustainability and Appropriate Reference Point. The committee was established to issue policies and guidelines for determining a reference point for sustainable aquatic animal management. In addition, this committee partners with Hokkaido University (International partner) through Prof. Takashi Fritz Matsuishi, who serves as an advisor.In addition, Asst. Prof. Dr. Amonsak Sawusdee has been appointed by the Department of Fisheries to become a member of three national committees that are still working on Thai fishery…