Socioeconomic study and economic value of living fossil,Lingula sp.in mangrove ecosystem in Trat Province,Thailand

This paper is the first recorded economic value of living fossil, an evaluation of the basic economic value of Lingula, based on the direct utilization of households for food and sale. Twenty-one local fishermen who collected Lingula in Trat Province were focused on by using interview questionnaires. The animal habitats are influenced by the encroachers’ age, gender and harvest method. The total economic value in 2011 was around two million baht. Those who possess fishing gear and have more money can have greater access to the product. The local communities in Nong Khunsong sub-district are successful in collecting the Lingula and in doing local business. The market channel analysis is conducted at local, provincial and national levels and short market chains are demonstrated in the form of a wholesale market in the Lingula trade. This represents significant consumption by the local communities. The study further recommends sustainable conservation and management efforts at a local scale.