Feature Stories
The “Fish Aggregating Device” project aims to create marine habitats
Due to a significant decrease in the number of marine animals in the Gulf of Thailand affecting the livelihoods of local fishermen, PTT Global Chemical (PTTGC) initiated the “PTTGC Fish Aggregating Devices as Habitats for Marine Creatures” project.
The project combined local wisdom with PTTGC’s innovative and advanced technologies to develop artificial seagrass that replaced the coconut leaves. The fish aggregating devices were deployed to increase the number of marine species in coastal waters by serving as habitats and shelters for marine animals, especially nursery species.
The fish aggregating devices are made from PTTGC’s high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, which is safe, durable, eco-friendly, and widely used in the fishery sector. The HDPE plastic was woven into three to five threads of thick fiber rope, each about two meters long. The lightweight, buoyant, and long-lasting fiber ropes, which are white to attract sea life, are attached to marker buoys that encircle a marine conservation area with a radius of 120 km. The buoys are made of eco-friendly polyethylene (PE) plastic, which is durable, and highly-resistant to seawater.
Local artisanal fishermen joined in the project, which set 70 fish aggregating devices off the coastline of Thailand’s Rayong province in 2016. The project will continue to set fish aggregating devices off the coastline of Chonburi and Chantaburi in the last quarter of 2017.
Starting with the local wisdom of artisanal fishermen, the PTTGC Fish Aggregating Devices as Habitats for Marine Creatures project has grown into one of Thailand’s most innovative prototypes for environmental activities. Participants from both public and private sector, civil society, and PTTGC volunteers came together with a common goal of rehabilitating the marine ecosystem and replenishing local resources.
By restoring marine fertility, and the resulting increase in the number of marine animals, the project promoted local jobs and sustains the well-being of local fishermen and the surrounding coastal communities.
| A connection between the corporate social responsibility program and corporate operations | Business, Social, and Environmental Benefit KPIs |
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PTTGC’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) program supports the company’s business by sharing expertise and knowledge. This contributes to a positive brand identity and improved image among communities and greater acceptance by stakeholders. The CSR program also helps PTTGC to maintain its business registration while gaining the trust of all stakeholders. “PTTGC Fish Aggregating Devices as Habitats for Marine Creatures” Project Along the Coastline of Rayong Province PTTGC initiated this project with an aim to restore ecosystems in an area with a radius of 120 km along the coastline of Rayong province, particularly in the Baan Chang, Muang, and Klang districts. The project involves creating habitats for marine animals using fiber ropes made from PTTGC’s innovative high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. The ropes are attached to polyethylene (PE) marker buoys that encircle the marine conservation area. The project aims to restore the biological diversity of marine species along the coastline of Rayong province, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources. The resulting increase in the number of marine animals has also enhanced local employment and generates income for artisanal fishermen. |
Business Benefit KPIs
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