Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

Khao Takiab, Khao Tao, Pranburi, Paknampran, Khao Kalok, Dolphin Bay, Sam Roi Yod and Prachuabkirikhan. Discussion on areas south of Hua Hin.
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buksida
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Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Between 80-90 percent of staghorn corals around Koh Talu off Bang Saphan Noi district of Prachuab Khiri Khan have been found to have been affected by bleaching, according to the Siam Marine Rehabilitation Foundation.

The foundation secretary-general Mr Paopipat Charoenpak said Tuesday that coral bleaching had struck both natural staghorn corals as well as corals which were planted by humans and some of them are dying.

He also said that other corals had also been affected as a result of sea warming which began in March and lasted until April. He expressed concern that the widespread coral bleaching around Koh Talu might impact on marine resources in the Gulf and tourism activities.

More: http://bangsaphanguide.com/forum/viewto ... f=3&t=1343
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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I know that this is a different place, but is related:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/travel/in-th ... ral-damage

3 Phuket islands closed to tourists due to coral damage

PHUKET -- Marine officials have banned tourist activities at coral reefs near three islands off Phuket’s east coast to prevent further damage to coral at the popular tour sites.

They have also ordered the removal of facilities and structures used for tourist activities from all three islands: Koh Khai Nok, Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nai, all located a handful of kilometres from Phuket, the Phuket News reported.

Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) regional chief Watcharin Na Thalang informed Phangnga and Phuket tour operators and guides of the ban, issued May 19 at a meeting yesterday.

"We want operators and guides active in Phangnga and the surrounding areas to understand the rules and procedures in conducting a tour to prevent further damages to our marine natural resources and the coastal area. They must practice environmentally friendly tourism," Mr Watcharin said.

At least 60 speedboats per day, as well as increasing numbers of restaurants and shops, are diminishing existing natural resources in the coastal areas around the three islands, said a recent report by the Phuket Marine Biology Centre, Mr Watcharin pointed out.

"Tour groups spend at least three hours swimming, feeding fish and snorkelling in the water, which severely damages the marine ecosystem, especially on coral reefs," Mr Watcharin explained.

"Coral reefs are crucial to marine ecosystems and our last survey showed the area around Koh Khai Nai has corals covering 120 rai, Koh Khai Nok has 109 rai and Koh Khai Nui 17 rai. Today, a tremendous amount of corals have been damaged and getting them to recover is very difficult," he said.

"The reasons for coral damage in the Koh Khai area is from the coral-bleaching process, which occurs naturally and from human activity. This includes the increasing number of tourists, boats that anchor on the corals, people walking on corals while playing in the water, feeding marine animals and catching them to take photos of with them.

"All these activities negatively impact the marine ecosystem and cause a deterioration in natural resources. They must be stopped. We have discovered that about 80% of the coral reefs in the area have suffered damage," Mr Watcharin said.

Suchart Rattanareangsri, director of the DMCR's Conservation division, added, "We started frequent inspections of the area in March, and today we still see tourists feeding fishes and collecting corals from the reefs.

"However, the number of boats anchoring on the reefs has decreased. Most tour boats follow instructions and drop tourists off in the designated areas."

Regarding the beach clean-ups in the area, Mr Suchart said, "Officials are clearing all beach umbrellas and beach chairs in the area. Shops and restaurants on the Koh Khai islands will be removed and the Royal Forest Department has been contacted to carry out the removal of these structures."

The officials are determined to maintain these regulations by informing all involved parties of the ban, Mr Suchart said.

"Tour operators and guides will follow the rules and regulations laid out. Officials will post the order in Thai, Chinese, English, Russian and other languages and tourism business and tourists must obey," he warned.

"We will set routes where tour boats may enter and depart from these areas, and where they cannot enter. Officials will also install more mooring buoys in the area, so far we have added 40.

"We will propose to the local government to send more officials to monitor the tour operators and tourists in these areas to prevent them from engaging in any activities that will damage the coral-reef ecosystems," he added.
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Homo Sapiens the curse of the earth
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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StevePIraq wrote:Homo Sapiens the curse of the earth
A very true statement however the coral bleaching is caused by the stronger than average El Niño effect which is a natural phenomenon.
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Google these 3 words: sunscreen coral bleaching
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Not the case at this particular island else the coral here would have been bleached years ago, we dive it several times a year for surveying purposes and planting new coral.
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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El Niño’s warmth devastating reefs worldwide
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2016/03/ ... -worldwide

"The GBR joins a lengthening list of reefs bleached because of the El Niño that started in late 2014. It is now the longest bleaching event ever, and this El Niño, which helped make 2015 the planet's hottest year on record, “isn’t even close to being over,” says Mark Eakin, a coral reef ecologist at the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in College Park, Maryland. Even though the El Niño is now weakening, its lingering effects could cause bleaching for another year, he adds."
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Coral bleaching spreads to Maldives, devastating spectacular reefs
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... ular-reefs
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Four Chumphon islands closed for coral regeneration

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general ... generation

CHUMPHON — Part of Mu Koh Chumphon National Park has been closed indefinitely to allow coral damaged by bleaching to recover, provincial governor Somdee Khachanyangyuen said on Wednesday.

Mr Somdee said the Department of National Parks (DNP) ordered the closure at Koh Ngam Noi, Koh Maprao, Koh Kula and Koh Rad, which are popular dive and snorkelling spots.

The decision followed a survey of coral reefs at marine national parks in the Gulf of Thailand that discovered large areas of coral bleaching.

The four islands are part of Mu Koh Chumphon National Park, which covers 317 square kilometres with a sea area of 165,969 rai.

Bleaching, or the whitening of coral as it loses its natural pigment, is caused by a rise in sea temperature, which has been linked to global climate change.

The four sites will be closed until further notice to prevent further damage from human activities and enable the corals to fully recover, Mr Somdee said.

Rakpong Boonyoi, head of Mu Koh Chumphon marine park, said all fishing and tourism activities will be banned at the islands, where bleaching of staghorn corals is widespread. The closure may affect tourismin the area, but visitors can still visit other popular dive and snorkelling sites in the park, such as Koh Ngam Yai and Hin Pa.

Staghorn corals are especially sensitive to bleaching and are among the corals most vulnerable to anthropogenic stressors, he said.
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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More coral reefs damaged by mass bleaching
More coral reefs in Thailand’s seas are suffering from mass bleaching as the result of continuous warm seawater.

A special task force to tackle coral bleaching has been set up by the Marine Science Association of Thailand to monitor the bleaching problem and suggest mitigating measures. Many reports of coral bleaching have been shared by the Facebook group “Thai Coral Reef Network” and local marine scientists since last weekend, showing coral bleaching this year has already spread over a wide area, especially in Gulf of Thailand, where the seawater temperature has reached as high as 32 degree Celsius. According to the heat tolerance ability of coral in this region, bleaching will start when the seawater temperature rises beyond 30C for more than three weeks.

Former marine scientist at World Wildlife Fund Jirapong Jeewarongkakul said that due to the prolonged period of temperatures up to 32C at Koh Talu in Prachuap Khiri Khan, 5 to 10 per cent of corals in the area are already bleached. Jirapong’s pictures from Koh Talu showed that many big staghorn coral had started to turn white, which signified the early stage of coral bleaching.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/ ... s/30346501
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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More coral reefs in Thailand’s seas are suffering from mass bleaching as the result of continuous warm seawater.
They could stop doing this for a start:
https://www.offshoreenergytoday.com/mub ... thai-well/
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Re: Extensive coral bleaching at Koh Talu, Bangsaphan

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Right. Apart from a few scientists and dive pros I don't think the people that own run this country give a hoot about coral decimation or oceanic pollution.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
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