Andaman Closures?

[Buadhai]

Channel 3 news this morning had a story stating that the government is considering closing Koh Phi Phi, the Similans and Surin to all activity due to coral bleaching (ปะการังฟอกขา&#3623. (At least that's what I got out of it.) No time frame or duration was given.

Anyone have more details? This would certainly be a blow to dive operators in the region and to those of us with hopes to dive there this season.

 

[Quero]

It will be interesting, to say the least, to see if this is just a rumor or a proposal rather than an actual approved policy.

Malaysia tried this strategy soon after the bleaching event took place last spring. Officials had ordered the closure of dive sites but have since reversed the decision. They were eventually disabused of the idea that closing the areas would hasten recovery and realized that the coral will recover on its own schedule. The only effect of the closure of the Malaysian dive sites was economic hardship for local businesses.

While it is undeniable that any recreational use of a natural area will have an impact on it, in the case of the recent bleaching event, it wasn't divers and boaters that caused the coral damage--it was the unusually high seawater temperatures.

 

[Buadhai]

The quote is from Kasemsan Jiwaso, from the Marine and Coastal Ministry: "Will Close Andaman".

I don't have enough posts to put up the URl for the news article, in Thai.

They're going to do a survey on the 20th. If the damage is severe they will close the park. Rationale is that emissions from dive boats and human activity prevent the coral from recovering as rapidly as it would if left alone.

 

[Quero]

Here's the link: http://news.sanook.com/995306-&#359...3634;ยหนัก.html

The Google translation follows. It still looks pretty preliminary to me, and it would create a great deal of chaos if the parks in their entirety were closed rather than selected reefs as has been done in the past. By all accounts, the bleaching is most pronounced at the shallower sites such as at Surin Island, as mentioned in the statement.

16 Jan 54 19:23 pm
Hnopidandaman! Coral reef damage after heavy

Hnopidandaman!
Coral reef damage after heavy
(16 January) said at Kasemsan Chi Wah So at the Department of Marine and Coastal. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, said preparation has filed a proposed National Park. Close to Koh Similan and Surin Islands, Phang-nga are some coral reefs after bleaching. Which is affected by the coastal population increased. Cause damage to natural resources is widespread.

Partly also because the temperature of the sea rising since mid-2553 as well as the volume of waste that is transferred into the water. And a diver or tourist overrun and coral damage. From a random survey found that coral reefs have been damaged from the impact of bleaching a lot. Especially in the areas of the North Surin Island. Mae Yai Bay north. Nearly all were damaged. Island communities, including Bath Spa Koh Ta Chai Koh Similan, etc.

However, it was found that the majority of the many coral islands in the Andaman Sea have been damaged. The only elements that are important tourist destinations such as Ko Phi Phi Don, Koh Phai, Koh Phi Phi Maya Bay, Long Beach, etc., which were a large number of dead corals and coral reefs have not found larvae emerging at all. Estimated that the damage would be severe than the damage from the tsunami, 6 years ago.

For this reason, the Director General, Department of Marine and Coastal. There are proposals to reduce the impact on coral reefs. Especially where there are tourists to dive a lot. But lack of understanding. Activities for tourists to fish along the reef. Cause fish to change behavior rather than eating food from tourists at the algae covered coral. As well as driving the boat did not improve the emissions into the reef. And to close the area from being used for any purpose. The coral reefs that need to be protected strictly.

While Mr. Sunan. Arun Nopparat National Park Department. This case revealed that Damage occurred to the coral reef. Would have to go down to the first survey. This provides a check to Phuket on 20 January this if they have a lot of damage. I need to close the park. The Similan Islands and Surin as Alan. To prevent more damage.

 

[Buadhai]

The headline in the translation looks a bit odd: Hnopidandaman from จ่อปิดอันดามัน!

I think what is says is more like "About to Close Andaman!".

 

[Quero]

Let's hope that's journalistic sensationalism, B!

I agree that Google translation is far from elegant, and it does introduce some weirdness, but it gives us the gist at least.

 

[watboy]

In the Nation today

Diving paradises may be closed
By The Nation

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is seeking the closure of two diving paradises, the Similan and Surin national parks after the coral there was found suffering from bleaching.

The scope of the corals destroyed from the bleaching has been wide and unless proper measures are issued, more coral would be destroyed by the phenomenon, said department director general Kasemssan Jinnawaso on Monday.

"The damage found on the coral for now is vast, probably the worst in history and certainly more than when The tsunami hit this area in 2004. The species affected are the Staghorn, Ring, Double Star and Mountain coral," Kasemsan said.

His department has already submitted a request to the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department to close parts of Similan and Surin National Parks to prevent any further damage to the coral.

A cause of the coral bleaching is the rising temperature of the sea water, which has reached 30 Celsius since the middle of last year, he said, adding that waste and pollution from diving boats are also contributing to the phenomenon.

"Many divers are also contributing to the damage as they step on the coral," he said.

Surveys of the sites between September and December 2010 showed that 93.6 per cent of the coral at Surin Nua Island had died from the bleaching while almost 100 per cent of the reef near Mae Yai Bay had died.

Referring to Phi Phi, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Leh islands, Kasemsan said the coral there was also damaged by bleaching in vast areas, probably about 90 per cent of the reef.

 

[Buadhai]

Thanks for that. I searched all over for a story in English. And, there it was, in the obvious spot; The Nation….

 

[Apecks]

Similan And Surin National Parks Diving Paradises May Be Closed - Thailand Forum

 

[Buadhai]

As expected, an incredible array of replies from the Thai Visa community...