Mai Rut Village: A New Story of Artisanal Fisheries

ABSTRACT

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“There are fish in the water, there is rice in the field.” This proverb is well described as abundant and fruitful living life in Thailand where local people can easily seek for natural resources to sustain their daily living around their neighborhood.

Mai Rut Village is one of the important artisanal fishing villages in the easternmost border of Thailand and became an essential node for the fishing industry between Thailand and Cambodia. In 1961,Thailand’s first National Economic and Social Development Plan was launched which introduced incomprehensive approaches that shifted the community into commercial fisheries and led to the expansion of the village without any environmental concerns. Improper planning for the development, overfishing and overpopulation has created a critical impact of rapid environmental degradation causing social and economic issues to the villagers who dominantly rely on the fishery business. This project focuses on the improvement of local artisanal fisheries that promote resilience and sustainable living using innovative ideas and planning in order to bring back abundant resources in the ocean of Thailand once again.

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this project could be presented as the ideal prototype of a resilient and sustainable conservation and rehabilitation center. We shall one day see a better environment in our world as humankind could receive higher quality natural resources whilst nature has been protected from over-collection of resources.

Nevertheless, conservation and rehabilitation the natural resources are not only the role of the fisherman, but also all humankind to support our world as much as we can while we still have opportunities to do so.

THANANYA VATCHAANSOONTORN