On 14 July, Oceans For All Foundation and JW Marriott Khao Lak hosted a shark conservation workshop for resort guests. The afternoon culminated in the release of two juvenile brownbanded bamboo sharks into the Andaman Sea. These sharks, designated as numbers 69 and 70, represent the latest milestone for the OFA on-property Bamboo Shark Nursery.
The nursery is a collaborative effort between our foundation and JW Marriott Khao Lak. Oceans For All team members operate the facility daily, while the resort hosts our staff on-site and contributes to the nursery’s ongoing operations. This setup allows our marine biologists to manage the breeding and rearing cycles directly within the resort grounds, combining scientific management with community outreach.
The event began with an interactive educational session. Guests learned about local marine ecology and the biology of the brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum), a species classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. These small, bottom-dwelling sharks face pressure from habitat degradation and accidental capture in coastal fisheries. During the workshop, our team explained how these nocturnal predators help regulate populations of invertebrates and small fish, preventing any single species from dominating the reef.
Following the session, participants accompanied the team to the shore to release the two juveniles. Both sharks hatched at the nursery and were raised under our care for six months to ensure they reached a size where they are less vulnerable to larger predators. This release brings the total number of bamboo sharks reared at the facility and returned to the Andaman Sea to seventy.
