Conservation efforts in Thailand are making waves as organizations like Oceans for All and the StAR Project work to restore coral reefs by breeding and releasing sharks into the waters around Phuket and the Andaman Sea. These initiatives aim to revive marine ecosystems by reintroducing key predators like bamboo and leopard sharks, which help maintain the balance of reef ecosystems.
At the JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, conservationist Ying Pemika Choovanichchanon oversees a shark nursery nurturing bamboo shark egg cases. These sharks, once abundant in Thai waters, have dwindled due to overfishing and habitat destruction. “Sharks are born to take care of the ocean,” Choovanichchanon emphasizes, highlighting their role in controlling populations of smaller creatures that overgraze corals. Since launching in March 2022 with Club Med Phuket and expanding to other luxury hotels, Oceans for All has released numerous bamboo sharks to bolster reef health.
Meanwhile, the StAR Project, launched in May 2025, focuses on breeding endangered Indo-Pacific leopard sharks. Nine juvenile sharks are currently adapting to a sea pen off Phuket’s coast, learning to forage before their release into the wild. This initiative, supported by Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources and Aquaria Phuket, has identified 278 individual leopard sharks through citizen science, aiding efforts to track population trends.
Both programs underscore the critical role of apex predators in maintaining coral reef ecosystems, which have faced severe bleaching events, with up to 90% of Thailand’s reefs affected in 2010. Recent data shows a 60-70% recovery rate in the Andaman Sea, but ongoing efforts are vital to sustain this progress. By combining shark rewilding with public education and sustainable tourism, these conservationists are fostering hope for Thailand’s marine biodiversity.