Abstract:
The objectives of thisdissertation were: to study ecological and environmental succession; to study
factors affecting conflicts; and to study approaches to coastal resource management of Bandon Bay. This
dissertation employed qualitative research method using critical interdisciplinary and dialectical method. Data
were collected from reviewing relevant documents, in-depth interview, and focus group interview.
The research results were as follows. The ecological and environmental succession of Bandon Bay
could be divided into three periods: first period referred to the self-reliant community economy (before 1961);
second period referred to mangrove concession and coastal aquaculture (1961 2001); and third period referred
to a crisis of Bandon Bay from the policy used to promote the export of marine products according to the
National Economic and Social Development Plan No.9 (2002  2006) under the Sea Food Bank Project in
2004onwards. Consequently, the sea area was compromised and staked from capital groups and influential
groups; and powerless people (local fishers) were obstructed to access and used coastal resources and the sea
area was become a private area which violated existence rights of the poor in the common natural place. This
therefore led to conflicts both between local fishers, local fishers and government, local fishers and commercial
fishers, local fishers and sea invaders operating shellfish farming outside the permitted area, local fishers and
influential people occupying wetlands and coastal conservation areas, shellfish farming entrepreneurs and
shrimp farming capitalists and coastal industries, and government agencies.
The previous coastal resource management was held by the government and lacked of maintenance
of resources and environment which caused extorting and taking advantage of authority and influential people
(local leaders and government officers) and relied on the state power to facilitate the seizure of land and coastal
natural resources from local fishers in order to increase economic stability. In addition, factors and constraints
related to government policy, law, law enforcement, and richness of Bandon Bay caused the occupation of the
coastal area as a private property. Hence, the new approach for marine resource management and coastal area of
Bandon Bay was the community should employ self-governance of Bandon Bay and issue marine rules or
regulations with an equilibrium, eco-justice, and sustainable balance of the use of the sea.