Tech & Unity: Saving Rare Marine Life with BlueQuest in Phuket
BlueQuest, OZO, and Amari Phuket unite tech, communities, and authorities to launch app-driven rescue training for endangered marine wildlife in Thailand.
- The BlueQuest app uses technology like GPS and photo uploads to enable rapid and accurate reporting of stranded rare marine animals, connecting the public with specialized rescue teams.
- An initiative in Phuket united various stakeholders, including government agencies, conservation centers, hotels, and local volunteers, through a workshop on marine rescue and using the app.
- The Phuket event serves as a blueprint for BlueQuest's plan to expand this technology-enabled conservation network to other key marine tourism destinations across Thailand.
Bridging Tech and Conservation: How BlueQuest is Scaling Marine Wildlife Rescue in Thailand
Saving endangered marine species requires speed, accurate data, and seamless coordination.
BlueQuest partnered with OZO Phuket and Amari Phuket to bridge the gap between technology and ground-level conservation, hosting an intensive marine wildlife rescue workshop at OZO Phuket.
The initiative brought together a powerful network of stakeholders including the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Center (Upper Andaman Sea)
the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP), Siritharn Marine Endangered Species Rescue Center, local park rangers, and Ao Tang Khen community volunteers.
Technology Meets On-the-Ground Action
When rare marine animals such as sea turtles, dugongs, or dolphins strand along coastline areas, every minute counts. The workshop provided participants with practical training in species identification, health assessment, carcass handling, and emergency stabilization using local resources.
Central to the session was integrating these field techniques with digital innovation via the BlueQuest app. Participants engaged in real-world simulations: locating stranded animals, collecting vital data, and submitting reports directly through the platform.
By leveraging built-in GPS coordinates and photo attachments, the app ensures verified information reaches specialized rescue teams without delay.
"BlueQuest was developed to do more than provide a channel for reporting environmental issues," explains Claire (Narida Charanachitta), the 17-year-old founder of BlueQuest.
"We want the app to be a centralized data platform that connects people, information, and the relevant agencies. A single report, supported by accurate coordinates and clear details, could help save a life."
A Scalable Model for Sustainable Tourism
Beyond emergency response, the platform integrates environmental hazard alerts and eco-conscious destination tips, turning coastal communities and tourists into active stewards of the ocean.
This Phuket event serves as the blueprint for a broader national movement. BlueQuest plans to roll out similar practical workshops across Thailand's primary marine tourism destinations including Krabi, Koh Samui, and Pattaya building a resilient, technology-enabled defense network for marine biodiversity.
The BlueQuest app is available for download on iOS (App Store) and Android (Google Play Store). Follow BlueQuest Thailand on Facebook and @bluequest.thailand on Instagram to join the marine conservation movement.
