PHUKET: Claims that a reef off Phuket is being destroyed by people who want the space for a ''sea walking'' venture have been dismissed by police.
The officers have decided that witnesses to the activities and photographic evidence are not sufficient to gain their interest.
''Unless we see it ourselves, there's not much we can do,'' an officer based on Koh Yao Noi told Phuketwan today.
The wanton coral reef destruction was drawn to the attention of police on the small island off Phuket by marine biologists from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre on Friday.
Experts from the centre took photographs of evidence that the reef off another nearby island, Khai Nai, was being systematically destroyed, allegedly by sea gypsies acting for a ''sea walking'' firm that wants the space free of coral.
The biologists even took along witnesses to the police station who had seen what was happening. Marine biologist Dr Nalinee Thongtham estimated that 300 square metres of the coral reef has disappeared.
She believes a stand has to be taken by administrators, by the media, by divers, by residents and by tourists before the Andaman's most precious assets are gone for good.
Over the weekend she also noted many species of fish, lobsters and shellfish that frequent the region's reefs for sale in a Phuket fresh food market.
''Alarm bells are ringing,'' she said. ''Phuket's reason for attracting tourists is disappearing before our eyes.''
Police were left off Dr Nalinee's list of people who could help to save the Khai Nai island reef and other reefs in the region.
An officer on Koh Yao Noi who answered the telephone today passed the call to the officer responsible for the issue.
He told Phuketwan that although a group of people from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre had taken witnesses to the police station and told him that the reef was being destroyed, he saw no reason to even record their complaint.
''We have to see it for ourselves,'' he said. It's believed representatives from the ''sea walking'' company have also visited the police station.
Although the tourists who visit Khai Nai island depart on daytrips from Phuket, the police station on Koh Yao Noi - like Khai Nai island - lies in the neighboring province of Phang Nga.
Phuketwan has visited some of the other holiday atolls ''shared'' by the two provinces and has seen no indication of environmental awareness among the daytrippers or the businesses that exploit the small islands.
The plan of the Thai government to ensure that the Phuket region retains its natural assets for up-market tourists is likely to vanish as fast as what's left of the Khai Nai reef.
Immediate action is essential. But the likelihood of Phang Nga police saving Thailand's marine heritage for future generations seems slim.
The officers have decided that witnesses to the activities and photographic evidence are not sufficient to gain their interest.
''Unless we see it ourselves, there's not much we can do,'' an officer based on Koh Yao Noi told Phuketwan today.
The wanton coral reef destruction was drawn to the attention of police on the small island off Phuket by marine biologists from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre on Friday.
Experts from the centre took photographs of evidence that the reef off another nearby island, Khai Nai, was being systematically destroyed, allegedly by sea gypsies acting for a ''sea walking'' firm that wants the space free of coral.
The biologists even took along witnesses to the police station who had seen what was happening. Marine biologist Dr Nalinee Thongtham estimated that 300 square metres of the coral reef has disappeared.
She believes a stand has to be taken by administrators, by the media, by divers, by residents and by tourists before the Andaman's most precious assets are gone for good.
Over the weekend she also noted many species of fish, lobsters and shellfish that frequent the region's reefs for sale in a Phuket fresh food market.
''Alarm bells are ringing,'' she said. ''Phuket's reason for attracting tourists is disappearing before our eyes.''
Police were left off Dr Nalinee's list of people who could help to save the Khai Nai island reef and other reefs in the region.
An officer on Koh Yao Noi who answered the telephone today passed the call to the officer responsible for the issue.
He told Phuketwan that although a group of people from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre had taken witnesses to the police station and told him that the reef was being destroyed, he saw no reason to even record their complaint.
''We have to see it for ourselves,'' he said. It's believed representatives from the ''sea walking'' company have also visited the police station.
Although the tourists who visit Khai Nai island depart on daytrips from Phuket, the police station on Koh Yao Noi - like Khai Nai island - lies in the neighboring province of Phang Nga.
Phuketwan has visited some of the other holiday atolls ''shared'' by the two provinces and has seen no indication of environmental awareness among the daytrippers or the businesses that exploit the small islands.
The plan of the Thai government to ensure that the Phuket region retains its natural assets for up-market tourists is likely to vanish as fast as what's left of the Khai Nai reef.
Immediate action is essential. But the likelihood of Phang Nga police saving Thailand's marine heritage for future generations seems slim.
Unfortunately the worlds coral reefs are being threatened for numerous reasons.
One way to support the reefs habitat is through artificial reefs. Stripping chemicals, oils etc from aging ships and sinking them at purposed locations would help. This would give a boats owner some return on their investment at its end. As well as a reef habitat and potential dive spots for the tourism future.
Posted by anonymous on March 25, 2013 18:41
Editor Comment:
Oh, so let the natural reefs be destroyed and replace them with artificial ones?