"A virus apparently caused it.." The sea around Phuket has non hope till the people will understand that CAN NOT pour the waste water into the sea without any (or insufficient) treatment. And in the next years the situation can only get worst.

Posted by dave on October 15, 2012 11:15

It would be interesting to have the pollution readings around Phuket to see if there is any connection between the increased death of marine life and pollution.

However since the authorities, in their infinite wisdom, decided not to disclose them anymore, one is just left guessing.

In my years of diving in and around Phuket I must say that the amount of garbage on the sea floor obviously thrown overboard from boats is staggering.

Locals obviously regard the sea as a dumping ground and it's little wonder marine life is suffering.

Unless you've seen a tourist hauling userd car tires, batteries and oil cans with them, this can't be pinned on them either.

Fully expect it to though.

Posted by Andrew on October 15, 2012 13:54

A Dave: Totally agree. In another PW article, there is a company expanding its portfolios to build more condos on Phuket, like we need more condos, less scenery, more congestion & more pollution.

Posted by Logic on October 15, 2012 14:24

Pollution isn't ripping turtle fins off and washing up whale sharks. It's the by-catch of drag nets by the ubiquitous trawlers creating an underwater gridlock for marine life. Without regulation and/or obliteration of these nets there will be only one conclusion.

Posted by Saildiving on October 15, 2012 19:17

Add to these the sperm whale washed up on Bang Sak Beach, Khao Lak, in August; the coral bleaching in the Similans and Surins and out of season trawl net dumping that exacerbates the problems in these areas; and Southern Thailand, particularly the Andaman seaboard has become a distinctly unfriendly marine environment. If the ostrich mentality of the Thai government towards marine conservation continues, this region will need to find other alternatives to its short-sighted tourism policies.

Posted by Alan on October 16, 2012 00:35

Everyday an unlimited amount of boats trawl an ocean no deeper than a lake, an increase in speedboats on the reefs and a huge rise in seafood restaurants.
The ocean here has been sold out!

Posted by Aquaman on October 16, 2012 12:48