AN INVESTIGATION is reportedly beginning into allegations of graft within the marine parks off Phuket and the Andaman coast. At the same time, there is talk of Thailand applying for UN World Heritage status for the same parks.
While bans have been imposed at about 20 dive sites within the parks to speed recovery from the natural phenomenon of coral bleaching, divers say nothing has ever been done to properly protect the parks from overt illegal fishing.
Plainly, Thailand has no chance of winning World Heritage status unless the parks can be safeguarded for future generations.
Phuketwan has received this plea from a diver, who prefers to remain anonymous:
IN LIGHT of recent stories regarding the coral bleaching at the Similan Islands and other areas of southern Thailand, I want to bring to the world media's attention a problem that may have even more severe consequences for the future of the Similan National Park.
The problem is illegal fishing activities within the national park and the plight of the shark populations.
It is no secret to most people working on dive boats or day trip boats to the Similan Islands that fishing is happening on a large scale, even though the national park rules state that no animal is to be harmed within the park boundaries. Yet fishing boats are often seen fishing at night time as close as 500 metres to the protected islands.
There are also many large fish traps dropped well within park limits. These fish traps are clearly identifiable by the floats used to mark their locations. Many of these fish traps are seen on dive sites, I have seen these fish traps at up to eight different sites.
Even more disturbing is the plight of Koh Tachai, another island supposedly protected by the national park. During the night it is common to see illuminated drift net fishing taking place around the whole island.
What is most disturbing that this happens during the tourist high season when most fishing boats are kept away by tourist boats. I can only imagine the level of fishing that occurs during the low season.
The high season begins in November and, as most Similan workers will admit, there is a severe lack of marine life, especially the larger pelagic species such as sharks, barracuda, tuna and trevelly. These fish populations slowly begin to recover during the high season only to then be fished out during the following low season.
In the past, at the start of the season when there are not many fish to be seen, there was always beautiful corals as a distraction. This is no longer the case.
The national park wardens do not seem to do anything to stop any of these fishing activities. On the contrary they are often seen visiting fishing boats and returning with fish or crabs.
When on occasion the wardens are questioned as to illegal fishing activities, their standard answer is they do not have the resources to police the national park.
At present the Similan National Park is Thailand's premier national park which earns the Thai National Park Service hundreds of millions of Thai baht every year yet illegal fishing activities are destroying the parks resources.
Islands are vital breeding grounds for fish stocks, and if fishing is allowed to continue around these breading grounds, then the future of this vital ecosystem is in severe jeopardy.
When I first started diving in the Similan Islands in 2004 it was common to see sharks on many of the Similan dive sites.
Now, only six years later, I have seen less than 10 sharks in a total of three months! Every day at Tap Lamu Pier (the closest fishing port to the Similan Islands) long line fishing boats and fish trap boats return to unload a minimum ten sharks daily per boat.
The number of these boats is also on the increase. I fear that shark extinction is likely within the next few years unless something is done to rectify this situation.
Since I started diving in the Similan Islands, I have logged every dive and recorded every shark I have seen. I have records from over 1500 dives that show shark sightings falling dramatically.
I have photographs of sharks being unloaded and also photos of fish traps on dive sites, fish trap markers within park boundaries and of boats participating in drift net fishing.
I hope this information is useful to you as I believe more public awareness is needed to help save the Similan Islands eco system.
(signed)
A very concerned diver
season 2006-2007
shark sightings = 88
manta ray sightings = 60
season 2007-2008
shark sightings = 58
manta ray sightings = 7
season 2008-2009
shark sightings = 48
manta ray sightings = 16
season 2009-2010
shark sightings = 40
manta ray sightings = 17
season 2010-2011 (season so far)
shark sightings = 8
manta ray sightings = 4
??????? not all dive sites are suitable for sharks, however I dive a four-day schedule including the Similan islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. I dive the same sites every four days. Data is seasonal, as in the diving season from November-April.
UN Calls for 'Protection' Access to RohingyaWhile bans have been imposed at about 20 dive sites within the parks to speed recovery from the natural phenomenon of coral bleaching, divers say nothing has ever been done to properly protect the parks from overt illegal fishing.
Plainly, Thailand has no chance of winning World Heritage status unless the parks can be safeguarded for future generations.
Phuketwan has received this plea from a diver, who prefers to remain anonymous:
IN LIGHT of recent stories regarding the coral bleaching at the Similan Islands and other areas of southern Thailand, I want to bring to the world media's attention a problem that may have even more severe consequences for the future of the Similan National Park.
The problem is illegal fishing activities within the national park and the plight of the shark populations.
It is no secret to most people working on dive boats or day trip boats to the Similan Islands that fishing is happening on a large scale, even though the national park rules state that no animal is to be harmed within the park boundaries. Yet fishing boats are often seen fishing at night time as close as 500 metres to the protected islands.
There are also many large fish traps dropped well within park limits. These fish traps are clearly identifiable by the floats used to mark their locations. Many of these fish traps are seen on dive sites, I have seen these fish traps at up to eight different sites.
Even more disturbing is the plight of Koh Tachai, another island supposedly protected by the national park. During the night it is common to see illuminated drift net fishing taking place around the whole island.
What is most disturbing that this happens during the tourist high season when most fishing boats are kept away by tourist boats. I can only imagine the level of fishing that occurs during the low season.
The high season begins in November and, as most Similan workers will admit, there is a severe lack of marine life, especially the larger pelagic species such as sharks, barracuda, tuna and trevelly. These fish populations slowly begin to recover during the high season only to then be fished out during the following low season.
In the past, at the start of the season when there are not many fish to be seen, there was always beautiful corals as a distraction. This is no longer the case.
The national park wardens do not seem to do anything to stop any of these fishing activities. On the contrary they are often seen visiting fishing boats and returning with fish or crabs.
When on occasion the wardens are questioned as to illegal fishing activities, their standard answer is they do not have the resources to police the national park.
At present the Similan National Park is Thailand's premier national park which earns the Thai National Park Service hundreds of millions of Thai baht every year yet illegal fishing activities are destroying the parks resources.
Islands are vital breeding grounds for fish stocks, and if fishing is allowed to continue around these breading grounds, then the future of this vital ecosystem is in severe jeopardy.
When I first started diving in the Similan Islands in 2004 it was common to see sharks on many of the Similan dive sites.
Now, only six years later, I have seen less than 10 sharks in a total of three months! Every day at Tap Lamu Pier (the closest fishing port to the Similan Islands) long line fishing boats and fish trap boats return to unload a minimum ten sharks daily per boat.
The number of these boats is also on the increase. I fear that shark extinction is likely within the next few years unless something is done to rectify this situation.
Since I started diving in the Similan Islands, I have logged every dive and recorded every shark I have seen. I have records from over 1500 dives that show shark sightings falling dramatically.
I have photographs of sharks being unloaded and also photos of fish traps on dive sites, fish trap markers within park boundaries and of boats participating in drift net fishing.
I hope this information is useful to you as I believe more public awareness is needed to help save the Similan Islands eco system.
(signed)
A very concerned diver
season 2006-2007
shark sightings = 88
manta ray sightings = 60
season 2007-2008
shark sightings = 58
manta ray sightings = 7
season 2008-2009
shark sightings = 48
manta ray sightings = 16
season 2009-2010
shark sightings = 40
manta ray sightings = 17
season 2010-2011 (season so far)
shark sightings = 8
manta ray sightings = 4
??????? not all dive sites are suitable for sharks, however I dive a four-day schedule including the Similan islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai and Richelieu Rock. I dive the same sites every four days. Data is seasonal, as in the diving season from November-April.
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Hear hear a very well written plea from an anonymous diver. Better take this plea and use it officials, or you will be destroying your own marine parks in the Similians.
Posted by GrahamM on January 26, 2011 08:31