Experts expect only minor coral bleaching this year

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Experts expect only minor coral bleaching this year

By PRATCH RUJIVANAROM 
THE NATION

 

 

Worst cases are identified in Phuket, Krabi, Chumphon, Rayong.

 

CORAL REEFS in Thailand are currently facing the onset of widespread but mild coral bleaching, as some reefs in both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand show symptoms of heat stress. Tourists are meanwhile encouraged to observe signs of coral bleaching and report them to authorities.

 

Despite around 5 to 10 per cent of corals in the coral reefs in many provinces reportedly suffering from bleaching, the Marine and Coastal Resources Department has predicted that this year’s bleaching will be minor and short in duration.

 

The reported 5-10 per cent bleaching rate matches a warning issued by the NOAA Coral Reef Watch (CRW) throughout the Indo-Pacific Region.

 

Bleaching occurs when the reef suffers stress from extreme environmental changes in temperature, reduction, or pollution, causing individual corals to expel symbiotic algae living in their tissues and turning the coral completely white.

 

 

The algae produce food for the coral and are therefore indispensable. After the algae are expelled, the coral weakens and will die if the bleaching period is severe or extended.

 

The worst bleaching has been identified in coral reefs in Phuket, Krabi, Chumphon and Rayong.

 

Marine and Coastal Resources Department director-general Jatuporn Buruspat said he had already received reports of coral bleaching in some coral reefs of both the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Thailand. 

 

The scale and severity of this year’s bleaching appears small, he said, and there was no reason to be concerned.

 

“Only initial signs of bleaching have been observed, which is normal for this time of year, as the temperature of the seawater is usually higher than [the yearly] average,” Jatuporn said.

 

“From the weather and seawater temperature forecast, we have projected that the situation of coral bleaching in Thailand’s seas will be mild and short. 

 

“The rainy season has already begun and more rain and overcast is expected, which should reduce seawater temperature.”

 

The Marine and Coastal Resources Department has a system in place to monitor seawater temperatures and it could be used to measure and forecast bleaching events, he said. Jatuporn also asked that tourists help officers by monitoring the condition of coral next time they go diving.

 

As for the CRW’s bleaching alert of last Friday, the entire Gulf of Thailand and northern part of Andaman Sea have been designated as a warning area due to rising seawater temperature.

 

CRW’s long-term bleaching forecast predicted that the situation in Andaman Sea would be resolved this week, but the seawater temperature in the Gulf of Thailand would remain too hot for coral until the end of June. That makes it very likely that coral reefs 

 in the Gulf of Thailand will be affected by widespread bleaching.

 

Niphon Pongsuwan, an expert on marine ecosystems for the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said the recent coral bleaching was caused by high seawater temperatures. Starting from May 5, temperatures in both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand had increased beyond safe levels for coral, at 30.5 degrees Celsius.

 

“The seawater temperature in the Andaman Sea was on average around 30 to 30.5 degrees Celsius throughout this month, while the seawater temperature in the Gulf of Thailand was relatively warmer at around 30.5 to 31 degrees Celsius, which is harmful to coral,” Niphon said.

 

The highest seawater temperature was recorded last week at Koh Man in Rayong, he said, where it soared to as high as 33 degrees Celsius.

 

Still, this year’s coral bleaching was not a cause for worry, he said, because the period of warm seawater was expected to be too short to cause large-scale damage to the reefs. 

 

As well, it was also found that many corals that survived the latest mass bleaching event in 2010 have developed increased tolerance to heat and can survive in hot water for a longer period than previously.

 

“Thailand faced the heaviest bleaching event in 2010, when 40 to 70 per cent of corals died,” said Niphon, “but we have observed that during the mass bleaching event in 2016, the majority of corals survived the prolonged heat. 

 

“This signifies that coral reefs in Thailand have develop traits to tolerate and survive in warmer water.”

 

However, Niphon warned, even though this country’s coral reefs have proven adaptable to changes, the survival of many coral reefs remains a serious concern due to the impacts of excessive tourism and water pollution.

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30346386

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-05-28

[eliotness]

So they are going to solve the water pollution problem this year !  Either wishful thinking or a blatant lie.

[bangkok8]

Come on.  All the coral reefs around Thailand are already dead and will never come back.  Tell the thai dive masters to stop stepping on the reefs and keep tourists off.   In about 50 years they may come back