PIERRE-YVES Cousteau met media from Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia off Phuket yesterday and revealed some details about his plan to help the region's dive industry thrive for generations.
Media on board the splendid Calisto for the briefing were among reminders of his late famous father, Jacques Coustaeu, who probably generated more interest in the marine world than any other 20th century figure.
Essentially the young Cousteau plans a comprehensive five-year survey of the quality and quantity of marine life in South-east Asia, carried out by amateur divers.
Cousteau, 29, took to the waters off Phi Phi on Tuesday for the first time.
''It was pleasant,'' he told Phuketwan. ''But from the footage I have seen of the same area in my father's time, the fish are not as large, or as great in number.''
Perhaps even before the survey is completed, environmentalists in the cousteaudivers.org project will have a better idea of what needs to happen to preserve and restore the full panoply of marine life - and to save Phuket tourism, as well as the region's diving industry.
Although appropriate action needs to be taken, divisions within the diving industry based on formal associations are likely to complicate what many see as the vital process of recording what's happening underwater.
The Thai Diving Association, a group that has always promised much, was not represented at yesterday's briefing.
Mr Cousteau will speak at a dinner tonight at the IndoChine Resort in northern Patong-Kalim, which is sponsoring and supporting the Cousteau project.
His visit comes at a critical time for the Phuket dive industry, with the bleaching of coral reefs last year adding natural damage to a series of man-made issues: overfishing, overuse of diving sites and coastal destruction, particularly of environmentally-sensitive mangrove forests.
Some environmentalists even see Phuket on the tipping point to destruction.
What the diving industry clearly needs most is a unified approach that puts the treasures on which the industry depends at the top of a list of priorities.
The Cousteau name may bring Phuket its best - and last - chance to bring a halt to mass tourism's destructive patterns, and to add scientific rationale and common sense.
Warship to Anchor off Phuket: More Due SoonMedia on board the splendid Calisto for the briefing were among reminders of his late famous father, Jacques Coustaeu, who probably generated more interest in the marine world than any other 20th century figure.
Essentially the young Cousteau plans a comprehensive five-year survey of the quality and quantity of marine life in South-east Asia, carried out by amateur divers.
Cousteau, 29, took to the waters off Phi Phi on Tuesday for the first time.
''It was pleasant,'' he told Phuketwan. ''But from the footage I have seen of the same area in my father's time, the fish are not as large, or as great in number.''
Perhaps even before the survey is completed, environmentalists in the cousteaudivers.org project will have a better idea of what needs to happen to preserve and restore the full panoply of marine life - and to save Phuket tourism, as well as the region's diving industry.
Although appropriate action needs to be taken, divisions within the diving industry based on formal associations are likely to complicate what many see as the vital process of recording what's happening underwater.
The Thai Diving Association, a group that has always promised much, was not represented at yesterday's briefing.
Mr Cousteau will speak at a dinner tonight at the IndoChine Resort in northern Patong-Kalim, which is sponsoring and supporting the Cousteau project.
His visit comes at a critical time for the Phuket dive industry, with the bleaching of coral reefs last year adding natural damage to a series of man-made issues: overfishing, overuse of diving sites and coastal destruction, particularly of environmentally-sensitive mangrove forests.
Some environmentalists even see Phuket on the tipping point to destruction.
What the diving industry clearly needs most is a unified approach that puts the treasures on which the industry depends at the top of a list of priorities.
The Cousteau name may bring Phuket its best - and last - chance to bring a halt to mass tourism's destructive patterns, and to add scientific rationale and common sense.
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Are they looking for local volunteer surveyors? To save the reefs we need enforcement. Best of luck and definitely a glimmer of hope that the beauty of the reefs in Phuket can be saved.
The UN sponsored program in conjunction with the PMBC, called Green Fins has been trying to do this for years, however participation from the dive operators, and tour boat operators, especially speed boats, was not very encouraging. Not sure if the Green Fins program is around anymore.
But best of luck to all involved and thank you MR
Cousteau for your interest.
Posted by VFaye on April 28, 2011 10:31