GPS Buceo ECOLOGÍA MARINA
Thailand
Closes 18 Diving Sites
in 7 national parks
Bangkok.
January 22, 2011.
Dive sites in 7 national parks across Thailand have been closed
in response to coral bleaching that has affected up to 80% of
corals surveyed.
Hat Chao Mai National Park in Trang
Mu Koh Petra and Tarutao
national parks in Satun
Mu Koh Chumphon National Park in
Chumphon
Hat Nopparat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park in
Krabi
Mu Koh Surin and Mu Koh Similan national parks in
Phangnga
Up to 90% of coral in the
Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea has been bleached. The
coral bleaching, which has been growing more serious since April,
is said to be the worst in 20 years.
The department Sunan
Arunnoparat chief said he could not say how long the dive sites
would be closed but diving activities probably would be banned
until the end of the monsoon season in October.
The bleaching is attributed to elevated sea temperatures in past
years. Closing the sites off to tourists will certainly reduce
damage from irresponsible divers Marine national parks
would be closed for six months during the monsoon season.
Mr Sunan
said curbs would be imposed on tourist visits to some sites, and
public awareness of marine life conservation would be promoted
in other measures to deter bleaching.
A task
force will monitor the situation and issue measures to speed up
coral rehabilitation, he said.
Praput
Khorpetch, vice-president of the Phangnga Tourism Association,
said the association was willing to cooperate with government
efforts to protect marine life. We don't want to see just
a closure of national parks to rehabilitate coral.
In fact,
we want to see the government and private tourism operators work
together to find a long-term solution," Mr Praput said.
"The
Marine and Coastal Resources Department should not blame just
the tourism sector for this problem. We received the message and
have made an effort to limit the number of tourists but we don't
have the power to do that. The government should impose a strict
law on this issue."
Suchart
Sirankanokkul, president of the Thai Hotels Association Southern
Charter, suggested the government set up a meeting with tourism
operators in the affected areas to discuss solutions to the
problem.
