Royal Initiative Project: Coastal Fishery Resource Rehabilitation in Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces, Thailand

Abstract

The Royal Initiative Project on Coastal Fishery Resource Rehabilitation in Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces of Thailand has been implemented during 2002-2015. Five (5) types of materials are used for ARs, i.e. 707 concrete pipes, 5318 concrete blocks, 881 used train cars, 590 used cars, and 25 used military tanks. These ARs were installed in 101 fish habitats in Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces (2 fish habitats used concrete pipes, 50 fish habitats concrete blocks, 30 fish habitats train cars, 18 fish habitats cars, and 1 fish habitat used military tank). In 2015, results of the monitoring and evaluation carried out through diving survey, fishing gear survey and income survey, showed that most artificial reefs are still in good condition but some are sinking. For artificial reefs using train cars, the walls and roofs had collapsed. A total of 188 fish species were found in the artificial reefs areas. Small-scale fishers from Pattani and Narathiwat Provinces fish around the artificial reefs using hook and line, threadfin bream fish trap, fish trap, and short-bodied mackerel gill net, earning total incomes that ranged from 14, 275.38 to 110, 064.71 Baht/month. The catch rate was 31.045 kg/boat while the average income was 47, 371.20 Baht/month.