1 Teenage Ninja Zoea Crab Project
1.1 Project chairman: PP Alex Chang
1.2 At the beginning of RY 2024-2025 we came up with this idea of Release of 3,000,000 babies Zoea Crabs into the ocean at Samila Beach, Songkhla.
1.3 We are thrilled to announce an exciting initiative to boost the local fishermen’s harvests: the release of Zoea crab babies into the ocean! These tiny but mighty crustaceans will soon grow into full-fledged crabs, contributing to a bountiful future for our fishing community.
1.4 Picture this: a swarm of Zoea crab babies, like an army of tiny superheroes, bravely venturing into the vast ocean. Their mission? To grow up and multiply, ensuring that our fishermen’s nets are bursting with crabs. Imagine the joy on our fishermen’s faces when they haul in their catch of the day, thanks to these pint-sized warriors!
1.5 It’s like sending the crabs to a specialised crab university, where they’ll learn to dodge predators, find the best hiding spots, and grow big and strong. And when they graduate, they’ll come back home, ready to fill our seafood markets and dining tables with their delicious presence.
1.6 So, here’s to the Zoea crab babies and their epic journey! May they thrive in the ocean’s embrace and bring prosperity to our hardworking fishermen. Next time you enjoy a crab feast, remember the tiny heroes that made it all possible.
1.7 Proof of Concept project run, July 21, 2024, Participation: President Benjamin and 31 Pudu Rotarians Rotarians, with 1,000,000 baby crabs;
2 Teenage Ninja Zoea Crab Project Launch
2.1 Launch date: February 16, 2025
2.2 Venue: Songkhla
2.3 Successful implemented, 3,000,000 Zoea Crabs released into a mangrove area.
2.4 A detailed explanation was given by Kon Chammnan, the Chairman of the Organisation to Improve Natural Resources and Environment, Songkhla, on the importance of the release of millions of juvenile Zoey crabs in Songkhla, Thailand.
The project will offer a strategic boost to local fishermen’s income by revitalising crab populations depleted by overfishing. Restocking these crabs— particularly in protected nursery zones— enhances survival rates, allowing more to mature to harvestable size. This directly increases catch volumes, ensuring fishermen can meet market demand without exhausting stocks.
2.5 If there is a sustainable restocking program, paired with regulated fishing seasons and size limits, prevent overexploitation, fostering long-term population stability. A steady supply stabilises market prices and reduces income volatility, enabling predictable earnings. Moreover, healthier crab populations can improve ecosystem balance, indirectly benefiting other commercial species, diversifying catches, and amplifying revenue streams.
2.6 Community-led management initiatives, often integral to such projects, empower fishermen to collectively guard juvenile crabs, deter premature harvesting, and negotiate better prices through cooperatives. Training in sustainable practices ensures optimal harvest timing and methods, maximising yield without harming future stocks.
2.7 Economically, increased catches may incentivise investments in processing infrastructure (e.g., packaging, cooking facilities), adding value to products and accessing premium markets. Enhanced crab abundance could also attract eco-conscious buyers or certifications, further elevating marketability.
2.8 While challenges like habitat degradation or climate impacts persist, targeted restocking addresses immediate stock recovery, offering a tangible pathway to elevate incomes. By merging ecological restoration with community engagement, this initiative transforms short-term gains into enduring prosperity for Songkhla’s fishing communities.
2.9 It is the humble wish of the Rotary Club of Pudu to act as a catalyst to inspire more rotary clubs around the region to undertake similar programs.
Funding
3 The project began with a modest RM1,500 budget, generously donated by Rotarians, which was carefully allocated for initial crab procurement. This seed funding laid the foundation for two well-planned conservation trips:
3.1 First Trip (21 July 2024): 17 Rotarians spent RM4,250 on transport and RM3,400 on lodging.
3.2 Second Trip (16 February 2025): 14 Rotarians spent RM3,500 on transport and RM2,800 on lodging.
3.3 Total Project Costs: RM13,950 (Transport: RM7,750 | Lodging: RM6,200), enabling 31 Rotarians to contribute to the ecological restoration effort. The efficient use of resources maximises impact while maintaining financial discipline
Volunteer Hours 4
4.1 The project’s lifeblood flows through the veins of its indefatigable volunteers, whose Herculean commitment has rewritten the playbook on civic engagement.
4.2 From 31st May 2024 through to 20 January 2025, these modern-day apostles of conservation convened in monthly two-hour strategy war rooms that would put military operations to shame. Over ten critical sessions—held on 31st May 2024, 27 June 2024, 30 July 2024, 27 August 2024, 24 September 2024, 28 October 2024, 26 November 2024, 30 December 2024, 20 January 2025, and a final review on 25 February 2025—they dedicated 20 hours each for an average of 5 Rotarians per meeting, making a sub total of over 100 hours of relentless planning, ensuring no detail was overlooked in their mission to safeguard the planet.
4.3 An additional 20-hour diplomatic marathon with Songkhla Rotarians with an average of 3 Rotarians, making a sub total of 60 hours forged an unbreakable alliance of environmental samurai.
4.4 The proof-of-concept trial run on July 21st , 2024 with 17 Pudu Rotarians and 16 Songklah Rotarian lasted for 3 hours for a total of 99-man hours
4.5 The launch days themselves became five-hour symphonies of coordinated action totaling a total man hour of 165 hours from all the Rotarians and volunteers who were present at the scene that day, where every volunteer moved with the precision of a Swiss watch.
4.6 This monumental investment of human capital totalled about 424-man hours has not only birthed an environmental miracle but has forged bonds of fellowship stronger than tempered steel.
5 From Rotary club of Pudu
5.1 President Benjamin Chong and Ann Megalin;
5.2 PP Alex Chang and Ann Elaine;
5.3 Honorary Member PDG KS Teoh and Ann;
5.4 PP Heng;
5.5 PP Elaine Tan;
5.6 PE Wong Wai Seng and Ann ;
5.7 Rtn Chua Poh Lee;
5.8 PAG Jeffrey Yap; and
5.9 PAG Chee Tak Kong and Ann Ngor.
6 Supporting Rotarians from supporting clubs
6.1 President Evilian from RC BU
6.2 IAG Simon RC Bukit Angkasa
6.3 Shirley Leong from RC Sri Hartamas
6.4 Vivian Chu from RC Sri Hartamas
6.5 Victor from RCPJ
6.6 PP Allison from RC Bandar Utama
Conclusion
7 The “Teenage Ninja Zoea Crab Project” stands as a colossus astride the environmental movement – a shining citadel proving that human ingenuity, when married to nature’s wisdom, can perform miracles.
8 As these crustacean crusaders multiply beneath Songkhla’s waves, they represent not merely species revival but the dawn of a new paradigm where ecological stewardship and human prosperity dance in perfect harmony.
9 This is no mere project – it is the vanguard of an aquatic renaissance, a clarion call to arms for all who dare to dream of a restored planet. The revolution has begun, one Zoea crab at a time.
For the report for the district awards submission, please click here.
