PHUKET: A tipoff led Phuket police and officers from the Phuket Marine Biological Centre to a longtail boat containing 621 pieces of coral stolen by poachers today.
The longtail was anchored near a canal in the southern Phuket district of Rawai. The coral was still ''alive'' but nobody came forward to claim it.
Officers impounded the boat and will try to detect its owner. Meanwhile, the coral has been taken to PMBC headquarters at Cape Panwa, on Phuket's east coast, where it will be kept alive.
Marine biologists believe it probably came from coral reefs off Racha Noi where the two types of species taken live below 20 metres. Efforts will be made to restore it to the sea as soon as possible.
Police and the marine biologists believe the coral was probably destined for sale to aquarium outlets in Bangkok.
The longtail was anchored near a canal in the southern Phuket district of Rawai. The coral was still ''alive'' but nobody came forward to claim it.
Officers impounded the boat and will try to detect its owner. Meanwhile, the coral has been taken to PMBC headquarters at Cape Panwa, on Phuket's east coast, where it will be kept alive.
Marine biologists believe it probably came from coral reefs off Racha Noi where the two types of species taken live below 20 metres. Efforts will be made to restore it to the sea as soon as possible.
Police and the marine biologists believe the coral was probably destined for sale to aquarium outlets in Bangkok.
I do not understand the Thai administration because they spend millions of baht each year to create artificial reefs but do nothing to provide all needed petrol to Marine Police and Marine National Park boats to patrol protected coastal zones and arrest poachers and illegal fishing boats.
Rather that blabbing with useless and lengthy conferences, marine biologists should be on the field to organize regular crackdowns especially at night when all cats are black.
Posted by Whistle-Blower on May 2, 2014 16:30