Deputy Minister Watcharapol kicked off the 2026 “Fisheries Volunteers Bring Fish Back Home” project by releasing 3 million aquatic animals into Nong Han Lake to restore fisheries, return abundance, and create income for the Sakon Nakhon community.
Mr. Watcharapol Khawkhum, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives. He presided over the opening ceremony of the 2026 “Fisheries Volunteers Bring Fish Back Home” project under the activity to restore and manage fishery resources in key water bodies, releasing 3 million aquatic animals into Nong Han Lake. The event was attended by Mrs. Thitiporn Laoprasert, Director-General of the Department of Fisheries, along with executives from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, at Laopodang Subdistrict, Mueang Sakon Nakhon District, Sakon Nakhon Province. This initiative aims to restore fishery resources in Nong Han Lake to create jobs, generate income, and enhance conservation efforts and quality of life sustainably for the local community.
Mr. Watcharapol said the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives prioritizes improving the quality of life for farmers and fishermen by ensuring food security while increasing opportunities for employment and income generation in local areas. This year’s "Fisheries Volunteers Bring Fish Back Home" project advances the “BLUE TRANSFORMATION: Transforming Thai Fisheries Toward Sustainability” policy, focusing on the B dimension: Biodiversity & Balance. This seeks to balance fishery economics with natural resource conservation by boosting aquatic animal production and encouraging community participation in managing their local fishery resources. Releasing aquatic animals back into natural waters not only increases aquatic populations in the ecosystem but also restores resource abundance, provides economic benefits to communities, reduces household expenses, and preserves valuable resources for future generations.
Nong Han Lake is the country’s second-largest natural water body and the largest in the Northeast region, covering 77,016 rai across two districts: Mueang and Phon Na Kaeo in Sakon Nakhon Province. There are 870 local fishermen, with 160 relying on fishing as their main occupation. However, environmental changes, including watershed development projects and construction blocking water flow, have disrupted spawning and nursery grounds. Migratory fish species cannot reach upstream breeding sites, leading to a decline in aquatic resources. Therefore, the Department of Fisheries has been tasked to implement the 2026 "Fisheries Volunteers Bring Fish Back Home" project to develop the grassroots economy and tangibly improve the livelihoods of fishermen and residents in the area.
During the event, a total of 3,000,000 aquatic animals were released to increase production, including:
2,000,000 golden barb and snakehead fish fingerlings from the Mobile Hatchery unit.
500,000 giant freshwater prawns.
500,000 fish consisting of white barb, climbing perch, gourami, snakehead, and yellow catfish.
Additionally, the event featured an exhibition showcasing project results, certificate presentations to youth winners of the coloring contest themed “Return Fish, Return Life to Nong Han,” and displays and sales of community products such as processed aquatic products, woven crafts, and fertilizer made from water hyacinth.
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