Artificial Reefs in Thailand

Abstract

This paper describes briefly the development of artificial reef installations in Thailand, and the objectives, concept and background of artificial reef installations in South Asia. It also reviews the ecosystem of the natural and artificial reefs, appropriated structure, material used, design, places to install ARs, Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs), sizes of ARs. Special reference is made on the artificial reefs using train wagons and truck carrying household garbage under the King’s Project on the coastal resource rehabilitation in Pattani and Naratiwas provinces. Evaluation on the economic and social issues for fishers living around ARs and the project implementation was described. Recommendations for further development of ARs were made. A case study of ARs installation in Petchaburi Province was raised as an example for learning by practice. The methods for collecting data, data analysis for catch and effort of the production around ARs areas, cost and benefit estimation as well as the altitude of the fishers living around ARs areas were reported.