Ways of Fishery Local Life: Processes of Participation in Management of Natural Resources in the Coastal Areas of the Upper Gulf of Eastern Area

Abstract

Problem statement: Local fishery was an inherited occupation for a long time. The objective of this research were to study: (1) the local fishery lifestyle of community in local fishery on upper area in Gulf of Thailand, (2) the appropriate participation process in natural resource management on upper part in Gulf of Thailand of people and organization and (3) the guidelines in natural resource management on the coastal area in upper part on Gulf of Thailand as relevant to local fishery lifestyle. Approach: The research area consisted of the shore of upper area in Gulf of Thailand including: Chachoengsao, Samutprakan, Samutsakon, Samutsongkram, Pechburi, Chonburi, Ra-yong, Chantaburi and Trad provinces. The samples as informants were 100 persons. The instruments using for data collection included the Survey, Interview Form, Observation Form, Record Form of Focus Group Discussion and Record Form of Participatory Workshop. The obtained data were classified into groups and investigated by using Triangulation Technique. Qualitative data were analyzed based on specified objectives. Results: The study of local fishery lifestyle found that there was location as in the present area owing to the fertility of area next to the sea. So, they could earn their living by fishery on coastal area. The local fishermen’s lifestyle was simple. Their living places were wooden houses with high space under a Thai house. For relationship of relative groups, they still helped each other among community people. They had belief in guardian spirit of a ship or boat and Kromluang Choomponke dudomsak. They did traditional fishery. Most of their instruments were made by themselves and adapted based on appropriateness. The wisdoms were transferred within their family, (2) the participation process in appropriate natural resource management, found that based on problem situations of natural resource on coastal area in upper area on Gulf of Thailand, being destroyed. Consequently, community people and related work units, participated in natural resource management on shore of upper area in Gulf of Thailand and the ecological systems were organized for enhancing learning of natural resources. The public sector promoted by providing knowledge for people regarding to conservation as well as enhancing for growing the mangrove forest, inculcating aquatic animals, setting clubs for enhancing the youth’s knowledge, the public sector work units collaborated in organizing useful activities for natural resource management and (3) the guidelines in natural resource management were implemented by requesting the support budget using in natural resource management on shore in upper part on Gulf of Thailand, trying to comprehend the reasons in passing the laws of enforcement, developing good understanding of people especially in students, inculcating the knowledge and understanding in natural resource in lesson of every class, encouraging for grouping the small group of entrepreneurs in developing bargaining power with capitalist, sharing wisdom in fishery among villagers. Conclusion/Recommendations: The public sector should participate in solving problems in management of conservative tourism, problem in communication as well as knowledge and understanding in natural resource of people in the area, enhancing network development among local fishery groups in each area in collaborating and sharing information with each other in order to have sustainability for local fishery in future.