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The Journal of the Royal Institute of Thailand Volume IV - 2012 71  Mangrove forests play a significant role in sustaining the productivity of inshore and offshore fi sheries. They contribute through the supply of nutrients to the ecosystem, provide shelter and nurseries for fi sh and help support numerous aquatic species. The importance of mangrove forests as shelters and nurseries for commercial fi shery species is becoming increasingly evident. Many species of penaeied shrimp use mangrove forests as shelter and nursery grounds for part of their life cycle. Mangrove waters are usually rich in nutrients (detritus) and suitable for fi shing. The major fishery sources found in mangrove waters are detritivorous fish, crabs, crustaceans and molluscs. Communities that live in or near mangrove forests catch fi sh, shrimp, crabs and molluscs daily from the surrounding estuarine areas (Figure 15). Aquaculture is widely practiced in the mangroves and most of the culture fi sheries are shrimp farms, particularly the Penaeus monodon spp. Currently crabs are also harvested widely in mangroves. There are other species such as oyster, cockle and green mussel which are not harvested for large-scale commercial use. Mangroves serve a very important role for the growth and productivity of these species by providing a source of dissolved and suspended nutrients. Fish catching Molluscs collection Figure 15: Fishing and molluscs collecting by local mangrove community Mangrove forests, serve as a link between marine and terrestrial ecosystems. They also play a signi fi cant role in maintaining the health and stability of various adjoining ecosystems such as seagrass beds, coral reefs and marine ecosystems. Mangroves represent a unique ecological niche and habitat for a variety of marine and terrestrial animals. The amount of organic matter and nutrients produced by the Sanit Aksornkoae