The Role of Government and Coastal Communities in Solving Blue Swimming Crabs Decrease

Abstract

Thailand has been exporting blue swimming crab products to foreign countries, and the blue swimming crab is a popular food of Thai people. Due to these reasons, blue swimming crabs are costly and are being caught on a wide scale, causing a decrease in number. The government which is tasked with solving the public issue and the coastal communities who benefit directly from such resources must collaborate. This article studied the role of government and coastal communities in solving blue swimming crabs decrease. It was discovered that the government’s role was to draft an overall policy related to marine and coastal resources, as well as a policy particularly formulated for solving blue swimming crabs decrease. These led to ideal local fishing communities to promote fishing management by communities, with the government providing tools and knowledge regarding fishing innovation and technology. Several of the ideal fishing communities joined together to establish “Blue Swimming Crabs Bank”. Fishermen took crabs that carry eggs to a bucket or a stew to increase the survivability of zoeas before releasing them to the sea. The management of their own and the continuous collaboration between the government and the communities since before 2009 to this day were a success evidenced by a higher number of blue swimming crabs.