Developing Sustainable Fishery Community Charter of Napakho Subdistrict, Bangkaew District, Pattalung Province

Abstract

The research aimed to develop a sustainable fishery community charter through a participatory process. The study area was Napakho subdistrict, Bangkaew District, Pattalung Province. Given the target population’s heavy reliance on Songkhla Lake for their livelihoods, there was an urgent need for the participation of all sectors to address its current rapid deterioration. Employing an action research method, the researchers collected field data through community forums and workshops, subsequently subjecting it to content analysis. The research spanned eight months, from April to November 2023.

The results revealed that the primary objective of formulating the community charter for sustainable fishery in Napakho subdistrict was to cultivate awareness and secure a collective agreement to foster the community’s economic development. This development was to be based on the sustainable utilization of aquatic animal and coastal resources, while minimizing harm to the Songkhla Lake ecosystem. The community charter encapsulated six key aspects:  1) conservation and restoration of Songkhla Lake, 2) sustainable resource utilization in Songkhla Lake, 3) management of pollution and human-induced threats, 4) empowerment of volunteers and the establishment of their groups and networks, 5) reinforcement of community rights to sustain, uphold, and expand the careers, ways of life, wisdom, traditions, and culture of the fishery community, and 6) mitigation of risks from natural disasters. Spearheaded by the subdistrict committee, this sustainable fishery community charter was envisioned as a tool to instigate change and foster community participation in addressing problems and developing Songkhla Lake.