Compared to many years ago the number of natural crab caught Bang Pat, a small Muslim fishing village in Phang Nga, has rapidly decreased. The local villagers got together and brainstormed in an attempt to find a solution to this problem. As a result of this The Crab Bank was established in the village in 2008. The main mission of the Bang Pat Crab Bank is to conserve the eggs of the pregnantcrabs that have been caught by the fishermen.
Every time there are crabs carrying eggs caught in the net, the fishermen will bring these crabs to the crab bank. The bank will look after the crabs, and then wait 15 – 20 days until they lay their eggs. After that the fishermen are able to get their crab back. The crab eggs are tended by the volunteers and finally released into the sea at the appropriate time.
The Crab Bank is a sustainable crab conservation project making Bang Pat village a pilot scheme for marine resource sustainable conservation. The community later decided to become an ecotourism village, featuring home-stays with local Muslim families, delicious fresh seafood, traditional fishing and mangrove planting tours. If you are looking for a truly different experience while travelling in Phang Nga, then why not consider staying at Bang Pat for a night. I am certain that experiencing the traditional lifestyle of this peaceful fishing village, along with learning about crab conservation, would be both rewarding and entertaining.