The blue swimming crab is not only a locally famous food but also a favorite worldwide, contributing to the Thai economy through exports. However, the economic gains have led to unsustainable fishing practices, including the use of gear that captures tiny crabs and the harvesting of crabs with eggs, contributing to an imbalance in the marine and coastal ecosystems. This situation is further exacerbated by climate risks, resulting in the catch or death of marine life before reaching reproductive age.

In response to this challenge, marine life banks were established, encompassing not only blue swimming crabs but also mangrove crabs, squids, cuttlefish, and cobia. The establishment process involved local people, including fishers, collaboratively reflecting on pain points, brainstorming ideas, and implementing solutions at the same decision-making level as local authorities to foster a bottom-up approach for solutions.

As fisheries play a crucial role in the income and food security of the local residents, the marine life bank has gradually become the lifeline of the people in the area—restoring the balance of the ecosystem and providing an additional local resource for fishers to run restaurants. The key to the sustainability of this bank lies in empowering local stakeholders with ownership and leadership roles in its management, contributing to the conservation and enhancement of marine and coastal resources. As a nature-based solution, the bank enables the sustainable management of natural resources at a low enforcement cost.