14.3.1 Conservation and sustainable utilisation of the oceans (events)

Srinakharinwirot University (SWU) supports and organises events aimed to promote the conservation and sustainable utilisation of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers and marine resources. In 2025 the University organised two marine conservation events on the eastern coast of Thailand: the "SWU Sea Conservation" project (มศว รักษ์ทะเล) in Chanthaburi Province in May, and the "SWU Together for Good" event in Chonburi Province in August. Both events brought students, staff, alumni and local communities together to restore coastal and marine habitats. The evidence is publicly available on the University's official pages.

SWU Sea Conservation Project, Chanthaburi Province (21–23 May 2025)

On 21–23 May 2025, the Student Activities Unit of the Student Affairs Division and the SWU Volunteer Center organised the "SWU Sea Conservation" project at Kung Wiman Bay and nearby sites in Tha Mai and Na Yai Am Districts, Chanthaburi Province, including the Kung Krabaen Bay Mangrove Nature Study Centre, the rock and coral reef at the mouth of Khlong Pak Nam Kracha, and the Khao Sam Phao Khwam community. The event brought together 84 participants: 50 students from 13 faculties and colleges (18 student volunteers and 32 other students), 9 executives and staff, and 25 teachers, villagers and local network partners. Over three days, students learned local fishers' knowledge on protecting marine life, built and released artificial rope reefs, cleaned up the coast, explored a mangrove forest, studied marine species and released crabs to help restore marine resources. The project also aims to build volunteerism and social responsibility among SWU students. Participants rated the event 4.83 out of 5, and the project was funded by the Student Affairs Division from the University Development Fund (actual expenditure THB 303,690).

Day 1 (21 May 2025): Learning About and Building Artificial Rope Reefs

Students first learned about the benefits of artificial rope reefs and how to make them. Artificial rope reefs are a traditional technique of local fishers for creating homes and nursery grounds for small marine animals. The dense rope tassels act as shelter, a food source and a nursery for marine life: juvenile fish, shrimp and small crabs hide in the tassels to escape predators. Community leaders taught the students how to make the reefs from heavy-duty fibre rope, and SWU contributed a total of 40 rope reefs to the sea. Students also made crab and fish homes and oyster spat collectors to propagate oysters. The photographs below show a community leader demonstrating the technique and students tying and assembling the rope reefs.

Day 2 (22 May 2025): Releasing the Rope Reefs and Cleaning Up the Coast

Students travelled by local fishing boat to release the rope reefs they had made into the sea, tying them to rocks and coral on the seabed near the mouth of Khlong Pak Nam Kracha, where the reefs serve as habitats and nursery grounds for marine animals. They also collected litter along the shore of Kung Wiman Bay to reduce waste entering the sea, and planted trees. The photograph below shows students and staff, in life jackets, on a boat trip to release the rope reefs.

Day 3 (23 May 2025): Mangrove Nature Trail, Marine Species and Crab Release

On the final day, students walked a mangrove forest nature trail, learned about mangrove and marine resource management at the Kung Krabaen Bay Mangrove Nature Study Centre and its aquatic animal demonstration unit, studied marine aquatic species and released crabs to help repopulate marine life. The photographs below show students releasing crabs, and the group photograph taken at the Khao Sam Phao Khwam Community Blue Swimming Crab Bank, with participants holding the artificial rope reefs made during the project.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14tzk32KPaV/

SWU Together for Good: Fish Homes for Coral Reef Restoration, Chonburi Province (9–10 August 2025)

On 9–10 August 2025, under the "SWU Together for Good" initiative, the Student Affairs Division and the Administration and Alumni Relations Unit brought 65 student organisation leaders and alumni who were former student leaders to the Samaesan Marine Science and Conservation Camp and the Ban Roi Sao community in Takhian Tia, Chonburi Province. Participants were briefed on coral reef restoration and the conservation of the sea, and then installed artificial "fish homes" at Ao Samaesan, Sattahip District. The photographs below show the briefing at the Samaesan Marine Science Camp and the participants preparing for the boat trip to install the fish homes.

Source: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16ZiqyxMNC/