PHUKET: A Phuket-based marine biologist is calling on the Thai government to prevent further destruction of coral reefs off Phuket and outlaw ''sea walking'' dive businesses.
Dr Nalinee Thongtaem, of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, says she and a team from the centre have found that sea-walking style diving is still being pursued off Khai Nai island, a popular day trip destination.
''We went back on April 3 and again last week,'' she told Phuketwan. Dr Nalinee says a large area of coral reef has been destroyed so the ''sea walking'' business can operate.
''The surface under the sea used to be solid,'' she said. ''That enabled the coral to build itself. Now the coral has been destroyed and the surface is soft sand.''
She said that it had taken 100 years or more for the coral to grow, only to be destroyed for money.
''It's ironic that the tourists come to see the coral reefs and the reef's marine life but this business seems to think it's all about walking on the bottom.
''Eventually, when the coral has all been destroyed, the fish and the sea walking business will be gone, too.
''Tourists want to see Thailand's underwater beauty in its natural state. This company only wants to destroy it.''
Any attempt at replacing the large area that has been destroyed would be slow, she said. It would take 10 years for new coral reef growth to become apparent.
''We intend to keep going back to the area to see whether this unwanted business is still in operation,'' she said.
Dr Nalinee believes that all tourists, especially those coming from countries where there is no knowledge about preservation of the environment, should be fully briefed on the need to avoid damaging the marine environment.
Phuketwan called the office of the Governor of Phang Nga where a staffer said that ''sea walking'' was illegal. The governor was not available to comment.
Dr Nalinee Thongtaem, of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre, says she and a team from the centre have found that sea-walking style diving is still being pursued off Khai Nai island, a popular day trip destination.
''We went back on April 3 and again last week,'' she told Phuketwan. Dr Nalinee says a large area of coral reef has been destroyed so the ''sea walking'' business can operate.
''The surface under the sea used to be solid,'' she said. ''That enabled the coral to build itself. Now the coral has been destroyed and the surface is soft sand.''
She said that it had taken 100 years or more for the coral to grow, only to be destroyed for money.
''It's ironic that the tourists come to see the coral reefs and the reef's marine life but this business seems to think it's all about walking on the bottom.
''Eventually, when the coral has all been destroyed, the fish and the sea walking business will be gone, too.
''Tourists want to see Thailand's underwater beauty in its natural state. This company only wants to destroy it.''
Any attempt at replacing the large area that has been destroyed would be slow, she said. It would take 10 years for new coral reef growth to become apparent.
''We intend to keep going back to the area to see whether this unwanted business is still in operation,'' she said.
Dr Nalinee believes that all tourists, especially those coming from countries where there is no knowledge about preservation of the environment, should be fully briefed on the need to avoid damaging the marine environment.
Phuketwan called the office of the Governor of Phang Nga where a staffer said that ''sea walking'' was illegal. The governor was not available to comment.
There is a huge problem with destruction of coral reefs around Phuket and Phang Nga. Years ago in the Red Sea, Israel I was told not to touch anything or under any circumstances walk on coral. Now many divers are saying the diving is terrible compared to a few years ago. I was in Bali recently and it is much better there. Perhaps more artificial reefs can be created but strict enforcement need to be enforced perhaps by charging each diver a nominal fee of say 20Baht or the amount needed to pay for additional policing. Soon many tourists will not come to Phuket when the diving is so poor.
Posted by Chirpy Farang on April 14, 2013 18:57