JW Marriott Khao Lak opens one-of-a-kind Bamboo Shark Nursery & Conservation Center in southern Thailand

Bamboo sharks are native to the Andaman Sea and a keystone species. As small predators of the shallow reefs around Phuket and Khao Lak, bamboo sharks play an important role in the ecosystem by maintaining the balance of all species below them in the food chain and serving as an indicator for the reef’s health. They became an endangered species due to their popularity with fish collectors and exotic food enthusiasts, as well as pollution and overfishing, which pose a big threat to their survival. Nowadays, these beautiful species are listed as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List due to their rapidly declining numbers.

Since 2019, Oceans For All Foundation has joined forces with the Phuket Marine Biological center (PMBC) to help breed bamboo sharks and hatch the eggs in an aquariums and nurseries…