Aow Thai Marine Ecology Center (ATMEC)

The Aow Thai Marine Ecology Center (ATMEC) is a marine conservation research group under Love Wildlife Foundation, Thailand, set up in 2020. The goals of ATMEC are to promote and conduct independent research and conservation projects in the Gulf of Thailand and beyond in an effort to promote evidence-based conservation and monitoring efforts across the region. ATMEC was co-founded by Dr. Rahul Mehrotra, a Conservation Diver instructor, and Nancy Gibson, director of Love Wildlife Foundation.

ATMEC has historically provided training to students in the majority of the Conservation Diver syllabus, but now has shifted focus to act as a training center to develop the skills and knowledge for future Conservation Diver instructors and scientists in Thailand. Research and conservation projects at present focus on coral reef reproduction and restoration, with additional projects on sea turtle identification and the impact of discarded fishing gear on marine ecosystems.