Coastal Community Network for Sea Guardians: A community-led model for Thai marine conservation
A 3-year project (October B.E. 2567–October B.E. 2570), jointly founded by the Thai Sea Watch Association (TSWA) and ChangeFusion as co-founding partners, to support 45 small-scale fishing communities along the southern coast in managing marine resources themselves through locally managed marine areas (LMMA). In its first year, the project worked with 15 communities in 4 provinces, covering more than 24,987 rai of marine and coastal areas.
Translated from Thai · reviewed by the CF team
Prove that community-led marine conservation is the most sustainable path towards global marine conservation goals.
How it began
Data showed that the average catch per small-scale fishing boat fell from around 13 tonnes in B.E. 2558 to just 3-5 tonnes in B.E. 2564. In response, the Thai Sea Watch Association (TSWA), a non-governmental organisation that has worked closely with Thai small-scale fishing communities since the B.E. 2523 decade, joined ChangeFusion as a co-founding partner to launch the 3-year Sea Guardians project (October B.E. 2567–October B.E. 2570). The ECCA Family Foundation joined as a partner from the outset, alongside several marine scientists. The project aims to support 45 small-scale fishing communities along the southern coast in managing marine resources themselves through locally managed marine areas (LMMA), to prove that community-led conservation is a sustainable path towards the global “30x30” marine conservation goal.
Four mechanisms working together in a cycle
The project works through four complementary mechanisms designed to reinforce one another rather than operate separately: LMMA governance, which enables communities to define boundaries, rules and monitoring systems for their areas; collaboration with government agencies and academic partners through memoranda of understanding (MOUs), which give community rules greater legal standing; resource-based economic development that links community income with conservation; and scientific data monitoring systems that enable communities to use evidence to inform decisions.
From the first year to the three-year goal
In its first year (B.E. 2567–2568), the project worked with 15 communities in 4 southern coastal provinces: Satun, Songkhla, Phatthalung and Nakhon Si Thammarat, covering more than 24,987 rai of marine and coastal areas. In its second year (B.E. 2568–2569), it will expand to 15 more communities in the same four provinces, bringing the total to 30, with the aim of reaching 45 communities by the third year, in line with the timeline set at the start of the project.
LMMA governance
The Thai Sea Watch Association (TSWA) supports communities in hand-mapping resources, defining LMMA boundaries, establishing committees and setting shared rules for resource use. It has also developed a standard set of 19 LMMA assessment criteria (7 mandatory and 12 additional) to assess each community’s readiness and management quality.
Advancing collaboration
TSWA connects communities with government agencies, academic institutions and civil society through memoranda of understanding (MOUs) that clearly define each party’s role: communities manage their own areas, support organisations help design LMMAs and connect networks, and local government integrates LMMAs into local development plans and budgets.
Economic development
TSWA and ChangeFusion jointly gather input on community needs and develop business models suited to available resources. They then provide seed funding of around 100,000 baht per area to launch activities such as seafood processing, conservation tourism and fishing gear cooperatives. The terms stipulate that 10-20% of profits go back to support LMMA conservation work, while another 5% goes to TSWA’s revolving fund to support other small-scale fishing communities.
Data-driven monitoring system
The project supports every community in collecting its own baseline and follow-up data on species diversity, catch volumes and the weight of catches. It also selects 5 communities with high ecological potential for in-depth research by scientific teams, including eDNA testing, habitat surveys, juvenile fish assessments and size-relationship analysis, to build an ecological database for long-term management planning.
Results from the first year of implementation (October B.E. 2567–October B.E. 2568) in 15 pilot communities
The impact figures above are from the Sea Guardians Annual Impact Report 2024-2025, which summarises the project’s first year of implementation (October B.E. 2567–October B.E. 2568).
Data note: All figures reflect conditions after only 1 year of implementation. The monitoring period is still too short to confirm ecosystem recovery with statistical significance. Data on species diversity and catch volumes collected before and after implementation in B.E. 2568 rely on only 2 data collection periods (April–May and September–October B.E. 2568). This is not enough to distinguish the effects of seasonality, fishing effort or changes in fishing gear from the effects of LMMA management itself.
The areas managed in each province vary according to their ecological context. For example, Satun has restored 1,500 rai of seagrass beds and more than 1,786 rai of mangrove forest, while Nakhon Si Thammarat has declared 3,922 rai in Thasala Bay a conservation area. The total of 24,987.25 rai therefore combines areas that differ considerably in size and ecological characteristics, and should not be interpreted as one uniform conservation area.
Thai Sea Watch Association (TSWA)
The organisation leading the project’s work on the ground has worked closely with Thai small-scale fishing communities since the B.E. 2523 decade. It is responsible for all direct work with communities, from establishing LMMAs and negotiating MOUs with government agencies to setting up fisheries data monitoring systems.
ChangeFusion
A co-founding partner of Sea Guardians alongside TSWA from the project’s initial design, ChangeFusion has a clear role in the community economic development pillar. Together with TSWA, it gathers input on community needs and develops business models suited to each area’s resources, while also supporting the design of financial mechanisms for the project’s overall sustainability.
ECCA Family Foundation, Garawake and Watanan Petersik
The project’s main funders, who have placed their trust in the community-led conservation approach from the first year of implementation.
Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Department of Fisheries
The main government agencies that have co-signed MOUs recognising LMMA areas in several provinces and adopted the 19 LMMA assessment criteria as a basis for developing national recognition standards.
Partner scientists and academic institutions
Marine science teams supporting in-depth studies in 5 pilot communities, including eDNA testing, habitat surveys and juvenile fish assessments, to improve the accuracy of community management planning.
Local government organisations in project areas
These organisations integrate LMMA areas into local development plans and allocate budgets to support ongoing restoration and management. For example, more than 300,000 baht in funding was provided for seagrass and mangrove restoration in Satun.
Expand from 15 to 30 communities in the second year while improving management quality based on lessons from the first year.
Expanding the area in year 2: from 15 to 30 communities
In the second year (B.E. 2568-B.E. 2569), the Project will expand its work to 15 new communities in the same four provinces: Satun (Tha Malai, Hua Hin, Rawai, Thung Bu Lang), Songkhla (Bo Yang, Bo It, Na Thap, Pak Chong), Phatthalung (Ko Nang Kham, Ban Klang, Bang Khuan) and Nakhon Si Thammarat (Ko Loi, Bang Po, Ko Phet, Pak Phaya), bringing the total to 30 communities and moving towards the target of 45 communities by the third year, in line with the Project's original timeframe. At the same time, 7 communities from the first year (Khon Khlan, Talo Sai, Thale Nok, Khlong Khut, Na Thap, Nai Thung and Sa Bua) will continue to receive support for economic activities and scientific work.
Improving the quality of LMMA management
Lessons from the first year showed that understanding of LMMA varied among communities, leading to uneven enforcement of rules, particularly those on fishing gear and seasonal bay closures. The Project plans to hold forums to build understanding of LMMA with government agencies at both subdistrict and provincial levels, so that community rules are more aligned with government regulations. It will also adjust its approach to defining LMMA boundaries to focus on "critical habitats" that connect multiple communities, rather than on fishing activities alone.
Addressing bottlenecks in cooperation with government agencies
Overlapping responsibilities among the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, the Department of Fisheries and local government organisations are a major obstacle, causing some joint measures to lack consistency. The Project therefore plans to establish a local-level LMMA working group with the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and the Department of Fisheries to expedite decision-making on overlapping responsibilities. It will also set out a roadmap for formal recognition of areas, with clear timelines (area documentation-survey-announcement), to reduce systemic delays.
Strengthening community economic enterprises
Most community economic enterprises are still at an early stage in areas such as marketing, branding and product standards. TSWA and ChangeFusion therefore plan to develop a central platform system to improve market access and coordination among community enterprises, while strengthening group governance systems, particularly finance and accounting, so that the agreed conservation funds are established in practice and do not remain merely an agreement on paper.
Expanding long-term scientific data monitoring
Because the first year's monitoring period was too short to confirm trends in ecosystem recovery, the Project will strengthen the capacity of communities and field officers in data collection methods and interpretation. It will develop field manuals and standard sampling kits to reduce data discrepancies, and continue monitoring data in the first-year communities across multiple seasons and years, to build a dataset robust enough to track long-term ecological change.
18 entries
Everything the field team has recorded, newest first
How can we
help you?
Choose the question that fits your role. Answers are summarised from our own records of the work, and you can talk to the CF team from any card.
What change does this work create, and how do we know it is effective?
In the first year, 15 communities established LMMA committees, and 7 communities had economic ventures. However, the monitoring data covers too short a period to confirm ecosystem recovery.
In its first year, Sea Guardians put systems in place for communities to manage their own marine resources, while linking conservation with cooperation from government agencies, community enterprises and data monitoring. The reported results covered 15 communities, an area of 24,987.25 rai, 6 MOUs covering 58 agencies, and economic ventures in 7 communities. UpdatePublication of the first-year Sea Guardians Impact Report 2024-2025
The indicators also included 258 fisheries volunteers and 19 LMMA assessment criteria that the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources took forward for further development as the basis of national standards. This Project However, the monitoring data covers only 2 time points in B.E. 2568, and a monitoring period of just 1 year is too short to confirm trends in ecosystem recovery or distinguish the project's effects from other factors. UpdateFirst-year lessons: Uneven understanding of LMMA and overlapping government mandates are the biggest challenges This Project
Based on these lessons, the Project plans to expand to 30 communities in its second year, while adjusting its approach to LMMA understanding, cooperation with government agencies, enterprise development and monitoring data across multiple seasons. UpdatePlanning for year 2: expanding from 15 to 30 communities, focusing on unresolved issues from the first year
How was this work carried out, and what lessons can be applied going forward?
We use 4 interconnected mechanisms, from communities setting rules and monitoring their areas to collaboration with government, the community economy and scientific data. The lesson is to adapt the way we work to each area.
Sea Guardians works through 4 interconnected mechanisms: communities define boundaries and rules for LMMA; work with government agencies and academic partners; develop enterprises that link income to conservation work; and collect scientific data to inform decisions. This Project
In practice, TSWA supports resource mapping, setting up committees and establishing rules. TSWA and ChangeFusion listen to needs to develop business models suited to the resources in each area. This Project Signing an MOU helps define the roles of communities, supporting organisations and local government agencies, and the project tests several forms of collaboration based on the local context. UpdateYear one closes with 6 MOUs covering 58 agencies across all 4 provinces
A key lesson is that understanding of LMMA and enforcement of its rules remain uneven, while some government agencies have overlapping mandates. Community enterprises still need to develop their markets and financial systems, and one year of data is not enough to analyse reliable trends. UpdateFirst-year lessons: Uneven understanding of LMMA and overlapping government mandates are the biggest challenges The plan for the second year therefore focuses on building shared understanding, setting up area-level working groups, strengthening enterprise systems and continuously collecting data across multiple seasons. UpdatePlanning for year 2: expanding from 15 to 30 communities, focusing on unresolved issues from the first year
What types of areas is this approach suitable for, and what do we need in order to get started in our area?
This approach works in coastal communities that are ready to organise and have diverse ecological contexts. It starts with resource mapping, community-agreed rules, collaboration with agencies and a data-monitoring system.
The first-year experience covered southern coastal communities across both the open sea on the Andaman coast and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as the brackish-water ecosystem of Songkhla Lake. Areas were selected with consideration for communities’ readiness to organise and the diversity of their ecological contexts. UpdateBeginning work with the first 15 communities in 4 southern coastal provinces The approach can therefore be adapted to areas with different characteristics, but the design of zones and rules must align with each community’s ecosystem and resource use. This Project
The starting point is for communities to map resources, define LMMA boundaries, establish committees and agree on rules for using resources. Government agencies and academic partners are then brought in through MOUs, and a system is set up to collect baseline fisheries data to inform decisions. This Project The design of collaboration may vary by area. For example, neighbouring communities may manage resources jointly, while communities that are separate but connected by an ecosystem may retain their own systems and work together through a network. UpdateYear one closes with 6 MOUs covering 58 agencies across all 4 provinces
Lessons from the first year indicate that communities should develop a shared understanding of LMMAs from the outset, consider important habitats that connect multiple communities, and coordinate with agencies whose mandates are relevant. UpdateFirst-year lessons: Uneven understanding of LMMA and overlapping government mandates are the biggest challenges
What methods or tools can we start using right away?
You can start by mapping resources, defining zones and rules for the community to manage together, forming a committee, and recording aquatic species data to track changes.
The project’s initial tools include drawing resource maps by hand, having the community define LMMA boundaries, forming a committee, and setting shared rules for resource use. This Project Rules may include areas where catching aquatic animals is prohibited, seasonal bay closures, or restrictions on fishing gear, drawing on both local knowledge and scientific data. IssueSeas and Coasts
Another tool is a basic fisheries data recording form, covering items such as species, quantity and weight of the catch. The community collects data before and after introducing measures so that the results can be compared. UpdateSetting up a community-based fisheries data monitoring system and collecting baseline data before management begins The project has also developed a 19-item LMMA assessment framework to help assess each community’s readiness and the quality of its management. This Project
One example of adapting the tools to local conditions is Ban Khlong Khut, which divides its conservation area into a fully protected core zone and a buffer zone where subsistence fishing is allowed but destructive gear is prohibited. UpdateKhon Khlan (Egg Yolk-Egg White): Ban Khlong Khut designs conservation zones based on the community’s actual capacity For monitoring data, collection should continue across several seasons, because data from only 2 periods in the same year are not enough to distinguish seasonal effects from other factors. This Project
How does this work connect to systemic issues, and what kind of collaboration is needed?
This work connects pressures on ecosystems with the insecurity of small-scale fishers. It therefore requires both community-led marine management and income generation that supports conservation, alongside cooperation on law, science, funding and markets.
Overfishing, climate change and pollution are degrading marine resources, while small-scale fishers continue to face constraints in market access and bargaining power, which may increase pressure to catch more marine life. IssueSeas and Coasts Sea Guardians therefore connects community-led marine management with economic enterprises that reduce pressure on resources, and mechanisms that channel income back into conservation work. This Project
Lessons from the first year revealed uneven understanding of LMMA, overlapping mandates among government agencies, community enterprises that still need to develop their markets, and limitations in short-term monitoring data. UpdateFirst-year lessons: Uneven understanding of LMMA and overlapping government mandates are the biggest challenges Addressing the problem at a systemic level therefore requires linking community work with government agencies and academic partners, while developing data and financial systems that work in practice. This Project
We are looking for government agencies to co-design the recognition of community areas; organisations and academics to help develop ecological data systems; funding partners interested in long-term, resource-based economic mechanisms; and private-sector partners or market channels that can help community products and services reach consumers. IssueSeas and Coasts