A young green turtle waits for a big wave to launch it out to sea.
The pond, which will be a sanctuary for turtles too badly injured to be released into the sea, along with turtles that have been rescued and are recuperating before being released, will be part of a turtle education centre.
Vice Governor Jamroen Tippayapongtada, Marriot GM Oriol Montal and Dr Wannakiat Tabtimsang of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre cut an ornate ribbon at the site where the centre is to be built.
They then joined others is releasing 15 green turtles into the sea. The turtles were raised from eggs collected on Mai Khao Beach untyil they were two years old, giving them a much greater chance of survival than if they had hatched and gone straight out to sea as babies.
Five types of turtles nest on Phuket's shores. They are all on the International Union for Conservation of Nature list of species at risk. The Hawksbill is listed as critically endangered.