Natural Reef Restoration in Khao Lak: The Sarojin’s Sustainability Project

Here at The Sarojin, we are passionate about keeping the local community and environment at the heart of our operations. As part of this, we have implemented several sustainability initiatives in recent years that we’re really proud of, but our newest project is beyond anything we’ve ever done before and we’re really excited to share it with you…

Back in 2024, we began working on a ground-breaking new sustainability research project. Our aim? To help safeguard Khao Lak’s stunning natural beaches. Our waterfront location on the Andaman Sea is one of the biggest draws for our guests, but like many other coastal regions, our shores are susceptible to seasonal monsoon erosion and shoreline retreat. Sea level rises also pose another threat, making coastal protection a key priority for the area.

Current measures in place, such as sand-filled bags and concrete walls, reduce the beaches’ aesthetic, impact local businesses and affect natural habitats for wildlife. We felt we could something better, something bigger, and so our team got to work. Our idea was to use locally sourced oyster shells and by-products from Khao Lak’s fishing industry to create a new natural offshore reef.

Inspired by a similar concept that had already been researched and trialled in Singapore, we enlisted the help of sustainable engineering and consultancy firm Witteveen+Bos. They helped bring our thoughts to life, which began with an extensive review of our shoreline to identify viable test sites.

In November 2024, net boxes filled with cleaned shells were deployed at several locations along the coast. Over time, it’s hoped that free-swimming oyster larvae will attach themselves to the boxed shells gradually forming a thriving oyster basket reef. In addition to offering the potential of a natural barrier against erosion, oysters are highly effective water filters. It’s hoped their presence could also significantly improve inshore water quality, further enhancing our marine ecosystems.

For now, we’re allowing nature to nurture our little bundles, whilst monitoring our test sites regularly over the coming months. If successful, the reef will eventually be more permanently installed offshore. We hope the project will have a lasting positive impact on the environment and will provide a template for others to roll out similar schemes in Thailand and beyond.