Written/report by Li Xinyi
You’ve heard of loan banks, umbilical cord blood banks... but in Thailand, there’s something called a “crab bank”! However, this isn’t a place where you deposit crabs to withdraw more later. Instead, it’s an initiative voluntarily launched by villagers from Krangpao village in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, aimed at maintaining marine ecological balance. Whenever local fishermen catch female crabs carrying eggs, they must hand them over to the “crab bank.” Once the eggs hatch, the villagers can retrieve the mother crabs, while the baby crabs are released back into the sea to grow further.
On a small island at the maritime border between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani lies the sacred site where the revered Thai monk Luang Por Tuad is said to have performed miracles. (Photo by scenic spot reporter Li Xinyi)
Located within the marine park of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, the small village of Krangpao is about 800 kilometers from Bangkok. The village has only twenty or thirty households whose livelihood depends on fishing. In addition to forming a self-initiated “crab bank,” the fishing nets used by the villagers have fairly large holes—about 2 cm in diameter—to avoid catching juvenile crabs.
The village of Krangpao in Thailand, with just twenty or thirty households, has managed to establish a crab bank that ensures the successful hatching of crab eggs and their return to the sea to continue growing. (Photo by scenic spot reporter Li Xinyi)
Beyond the village’s environmental measures, during the period from February to May, large fishing boats are prohibited from going out to sea in this area, allowing the marine ecosystem time to rest. During this time, the larger boats are repaired, and only small fishing vessels are allowed to operate. This understanding of maintaining food chain balance has led to frequent dolphin sightings in the waters, making whale watching a famous local tourist attraction. Such eco-friendly practices are truly worth learning from.
Fishermen still use traditional methods like setting up elevated nets and waiting for fish to swim in. (Photo by scenic spot reporter Li Xinyi)
Fishing is a livelihood dependent on the weather, and altars for worshipping deities can be seen offshore. (Photo by scenic spot reporter Li Xinyi)
Beyond the efforts of the local residents, at the maritime border between Nakhon Si Thammarat and Surat Thani, there is a small island called Koh Nui, which is home to the shrine of the revered Thai monk Luang Por Tuad. Legend has it that over a hundred years ago, during a drought, the respected monk discovered a freshwater spring on this island, solving the water shortage problem. To this day, fresh water continues to flow from the ground at the spring site, and the monk’s miracles continue to be widely recounted across Thailand. Temples dedicated to him, such as Wat Huay Mongkol in Hua Hin, have been established (for details, see www.tripass.net/article.php?op=articleinfo&articleid=5922).
Visitors need to take a canoe to reach Koh Nui, the island where Luang Por Tuad is said to have performed his miracle. (Photo by scenic spot reporter Li Xinyi)
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