Report on following-up SEAFDEC-DOF project in Chumphon Province

Date: 5-8 January 2010
Venue: Baan Tongkroke village, Chumphon

Objectives:

1. To monitor fish enhancing device installation affected to local fishers’ livelihood and coastal resource management.
2. To monitor crab bank data collection for promotion of using indicators and participation.
3. To collect information concerned practice of local residence affected to coastal environment to provide capacity building on sustaining good marine environment for primarily securing local user’s livelihoods.

Timetable:

Date/Time	Activities
5 Jan 2010 (Tue.)
0800-1230	Leave SEAFDEC/TD for Chumphon
1400-1630	Meeting with local officers and village head
6 May 2009 (Wed.)
0830-1700	Data collection (interview and discuss with target group)
7 May 2009 (Thu.)
0830-1700	Data collection (interview and discuss with target group)
8 May 2009 (Fri.)
0900-1130	Meeting with local officers to conclude
1200-1730	Leave Chumphon for SEAFDEC/TD

SEAFDEC staff visited and informed the Head of Baan Tongkroke Village, Mr. Kasem Sangbangka, on the purpose of the visiting which was to interview the local people on the effects of the FEDs installations on the coastal environment from the local residents’ points of view, crab bank data collection using a questionnaire, and discussion with the local people.

Mr. Kasem informed the SEAFDEC staff that FEDs installation was very useful for small-scale fisheries, but the FEDs have sunk into the sea because of shells/barnacles hanging on the ropes. Furthermore, the SEAFDEC staff also discussed with Mr. Wairat Patharn, the chairman of the crab bank conservation group. He said that the group is willing to participate in the data collection of crab bank since the fishermen have been collecting data in their recording sheets. The SEAFDEC staff informed Mr. Kasem and Mr. Wairat that there is a company willing to provide some budget to support crab fishery. The company is interested and would like to see the crab bank, and the data collection at Ban Kohpitak Village. Therefore, this is a good chance for the group to show its crab bank activity in the village for possible funding support from the company.

Data collection from local residence on monitoring FEDs installation, crab bank data collection and effects on coastal environment

The activity involved 30 interviewees who live along the coastal zone at Ban Tongkroke Village. Most of interviewees were fisherman while some were engaged in agriculture and laborers. The result indicated that the local people were satisfied with FEDs installation because the fish yield has been increased and the number of trawlers decreased. However, the FEDs were sunk into the sea because there were plenty of shells/barnacles hanging on the ropes. The fisherman suggested FEDs should be made much stronger than the old ones. Moreover, the fisherman preferred and requested the installation of artificial reefs instead of FEDs because they thought that artificial reefs were more effective and stronger than the FEDs.

In addition, releasing gravid crabs into the crab bank was recorded by the fishermen. Around 17 persons use the data recording sheet which was developed following the recommendations of the SEAFDEC staff and fishery officials in Chumphon Province. The fishermen started recording since June until August, but after August they stop crab fishing because of strong winds and waves, and they would start again after the end of the monsoon season. Since the crab bank was set up, the fishermen observed that the crab stock has highly increased and the fishermen became more interested to release gravid crabs into the crab bank. Furthermore, they suggested the crab bank cages should be made of steel and in the future training on crab culture before releasing the gravid crabs into crab bank should be organized. Moreover, the data recording sheet should be smaller for them to conveniently undertake the recording.

Regarding the session on environment impacts from the local residents’ practices, the report indicated that due to the lack of garbage cans in the village, therefore most of fisherman have to burn or bury their garbage except the trash that could be recycled which they would sort to collect those that can be sold. It was also noted that some local residents release their waste water directly into the ground. Moreover, the interviewees also indicated that they would collect garbage in front of their houses and participate in beach cleaning on the campaign days. They however expressed their thoughts that the environment in the village was damaged a little, the same as the coastal environment. They said that for sustaining good marine environment beach cleaning should be always promoted and support should be made in providing a garbage can for each village, build up a dam or plant mangroves to prevent coastal erosion and also build up people’s awareness on environment conservation.

At the Chumphon Fisheries Provincial Office and Chumphon Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center

On the last day, the SEAFDEC staff visited the Chumphon Fisheries Provincial Office and the Chumphon Marine Fisheries Research and Development Center. There, the staff summarized the information they got from the data collection and discussion with the fishers. In addition, the SEAFDEC staff also reiterated that some company was interested in supporting the crab bank at Ban Kohpitak Village. However, the company would like to see some data collection and what the fishers have done with their crab bank activity, after which the company would propose to the committee. SEAFDEC has also been asked to collaborate on this in order to support the company for the crab bank activity and the FEDs project.