PHUKET: Social media images showing a sea walking company ''guide'' handling sea creatures were 12 months old and the staffer involved had since been sacked, investigating Phuket officials have been told.
However, the posting of the images and video has rekindled debate about whether three sea walking companies operating near Phuket should be allowed to continue.
Officials are to meet with Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong early in May to discuss the issue because, although there are no laws to stop sea walkers operating outside national parks, the governor has the power to ban them.
The video posted recently online showed underwater creatures being held up for a camera. Sea walkers have a poor reputation among environmentalists.
Use of a helmet enables people to descend to the bottom of the ocean without the need to learn to scuba dive.
Koh Hey is a popular spot for the seawalkinmg businesses, which charge 1900-2000 baht for 20 minutes on the bottom.
The Phuket Director of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thanet Mannoi, said he had been told the staffer pictured had been fired and the video was about 12 months old.
Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a member of the National Reform Council with a strong reputastion for marine conservation, told Phuketwan that sea walker businesses were operating off Pattaya and Phuket and that provincial governors had the power to stop them.
Phuket Tourism and Sport Director Santi Pawai, who has taken an interest in what options are ethical for tourists off the coast of Phuket, will be joining the meeting with the governor next month.
However, the posting of the images and video has rekindled debate about whether three sea walking companies operating near Phuket should be allowed to continue.
Officials are to meet with Phuket Governor Nisit Jansomwong early in May to discuss the issue because, although there are no laws to stop sea walkers operating outside national parks, the governor has the power to ban them.
The video posted recently online showed underwater creatures being held up for a camera. Sea walkers have a poor reputation among environmentalists.
Use of a helmet enables people to descend to the bottom of the ocean without the need to learn to scuba dive.
Koh Hey is a popular spot for the seawalkinmg businesses, which charge 1900-2000 baht for 20 minutes on the bottom.
The Phuket Director of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thanet Mannoi, said he had been told the staffer pictured had been fired and the video was about 12 months old.
Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat, a member of the National Reform Council with a strong reputastion for marine conservation, told Phuketwan that sea walker businesses were operating off Pattaya and Phuket and that provincial governors had the power to stop them.
Phuket Tourism and Sport Director Santi Pawai, who has taken an interest in what options are ethical for tourists off the coast of Phuket, will be joining the meeting with the governor next month.
Somebody has the power to stop this nonsense. It is blatantly wrong to mis-manage the marine environment without proper training & charging exorbitant prices. Backhanders somewhere for sure!
Posted by Logic on April 27, 2015 22:17