Environmentalist slams foreign divers for disturbing sea creatures near Koh Phangan

 

Picture: Daily News

 

A leading expert on the sea and environmentalist has hit out at two foreigners who videoed themselves disturbing sea creatures at night off Koh Phangan in the south of Thailand.

 

The pair were seen with creatures like starfish, sea slugs or sea cucumbers, crabs and shellfish on an abundant coral reef. 

 

Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat of Kaset university's fisheries faculty slammed the divers on Facebook: 

 

"When diving for purposes of tourism we are the guests of our friends in the deep - no matter where we are from.

 

"We need to respect our hosts and behave as good visitors when visiting the sea - not create trouble and not disturb life there".

 

He criticized the divers for going into the sea at night when creatures are resting and when smaller creatures might be alarmed and become easy prey for larger animals. 

 

Dr Thon noted that the area is not a national park. He said that most people respect the ocean though some did not. 

 

He called on everyone to love the sea and recognise it as a necessary part of our lives. 

 

Source: Daily News

 

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14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Dr Thon Thamrongnawasawat of Kaset university's fisheries faculty slammed the divers on Facebook:

How terrible that they were diving and touched some of the creatures. I really feel sorry for this mans close environment. Can´t be easy to have such a rabid man in the house.

Yes they picked them up and then they PUT THEM BACK DOWN AGAIN not harming them which is something Marine Biologists do .

The question is he angry because they handled them or maybe they are farang ?

Divers should leave bubbles only.

 

No touching of any creatures whilst under water. As a sample, the puffer fish that he handled, blows itself up and it's a sign of severe distress which can very easily lead to death for the puffer fish.

The Phangan and Thai dive community is not condoning these actions at all.

 

Divers should observe and not touch anything underwater. All leading recreational diving organizations have this in their course training curriculum's.

 

In this specific case, it doesn't matter that the person is a foreigner/Westerner, he/they should not have handled the creatures. Period.

 

On the other hand, I wonder what kind of expert this person is, night diving is a big part of the dive business all over the world, including Thailand. Not all creatures rest, some wake up and feed during the night time. You can see different creatures at night compared to the day time.

I feel so guilty, I ate 3 strawberries while watching TV, it was dark outside.

 

Another Numnut who thinks he should be getting more attention.

 

 

4 hours ago, limbos said:

I wonder what kind of expert this person is,

Thailands leading. He's probably done more for marine conservation than any other person in Thailand. The real deal.

 

One of the nicest people I met when I lived in the south. Fantastic English and definitely not a xenophobe of any kind. 

 

I think his comments are probably more "what we should do" rather than "what have we done". Education (of the Thai populace) is a big thing for him.

 

 

I agree with avoiding disturbing sea creatures, but it does not seem they were harmed.  But touching sea creatures can strip mucous lining off their scales and make them vulnerable to infections as a result.  However they were not spearfishing for example. Lots of irresponsible spear fishers.

Night diving is also a very frequent activity all over the world in marine sanctuaries.  It is also an essential part of advanced diving certification.  There are nocturnal sea creatures as well that are active at night and can only be observed at night.  

A lot of damage is done by group tours where lots of clueless tourists are dumped into the water and then trample over fragile coral by smashing their fins and booties into them. And anchors from boats ripping apart coral. They are the real problem. 

Recreational diving should be limited  and always in reef and protected areas   accompanied by a licensed trained professional.

5 hours ago, webfact said:

"When diving for purposes of tourism we are the guests of our friends in the deep - no matter where we are from.

 

"We need to respect our hosts and behave as good visitors when visiting the sea - not create trouble and not disturb life there".

Now that is hardly "Slams" is it?

 

Neither does he use any term to highlight "foreigners". If you just read his quotes in the article and not the article itself or the title you will see the actual situation (calm, unbiased commentary). No interview was conducted with him, just quotes from his Facebook account. 

5 hours ago, keith101 said:

Yes they picked them up and then they PUT THEM BACK DOWN AGAIN not harming them which is something Marine Biologists do .

The question is he angry because they handled them or maybe they are farang ?

Naah!! It's because he can get his face in the papers and then look like he is important!!! ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????

Having been a diving instructor with over 300 dives in Thai waters I would question this so called experts knowledge of diving and his remark about disturbing sea creatures sleeping by diving at night also question his practical knowledge. The reason night dives are done is many animals come out and hunt at night and plankton blumes are beautiful. While touching sea creatures well infact touching any wild animal is wrong the impact these divers made was as close to zero as you can get and the animals they interacted with are very common. Why not use your platform Mr Expert and scream about Thai fishing boats, squid night fishing, long trails, speed boats that kill some of the rarest and most beautiful of creatures in Thai waters or fishing nets covering reefs and the ocean floor trapping animals killing them especially turtles. This type of comment makes me sick when there is so much wrong with the destruction being carried out by Thais. 

Did this so called “marine biologist expert” ever speak out about the practice of pumping sewage water straight into the ocean or has he only got a big mouth against a tourist diving at nighttime ?

I agree ! not only people are annoying for animals on the planet, but also under the sea....

 

I am sure Starfish,Urchins,Sea slugs,sea Cucumbers don't sleep,

they are on the go all the time,eating and sh*tting thats 

their whole life, might be nice for it to get picked up, Oh someone

is interested in me......

regards worgeordie

Yet fishing boats do absolutely nothing to the sea ! Another expert shouting listen to me bad farang !! ???? Pot - kettle , people in glass houses etc !

7 hours ago, webfact said:

He called on everyone to love the sea and recognise it as a necessary part of our lives.

Where was this experts voice when Maya beach was being destroyed by his fellow countrymen for profit?

I go, I look, I learn, and I leave. Be it at a temple, botanical garden or historical site, my curiosity is satisfied by research and not the disturbance of the subject. 

Dr Thon noted that the area is not a national park.

 

What a clown.
Almost everything is a national park in Thailand and most likely the divers had to pay a hefty fee for there diving spot also.

Concentrating his efforts on public education of disposable plastics would be so much more fruitful. 

One posts photos on social media, half of China arrives to do the same. That's the real harm done here.

5 hours ago, DPKANKAN said:

Naah!! It's because he can get his face in the papers and then look like he is important!!! ???????????????? ????????????????????????????????

He IS important!! The most important marine scientist in Thailand. He does not need to fluff himself up, he's already top of the tree.

3 hours ago, hotchilli said:

Where was this experts voice when Maya beach was being destroyed by his fellow countrymen for profit?

You may wish to go back and read those articles. You may not know who he is but most Thais do.

I wish I could delete myself on TVF but they don't let you. This man does more for Thailand's environment in a minute of his life compared to you whinging know it alls. Look him up. His work speaks for its self.

10 hours ago, limbos said:

Divers should observe and not touch anything underwater. All leading recreational diving organizations have this in their course training curriculum's.

Yes but I have seen night dives on offer everywhere I have been to, and this little man seems to dislike that. Frankly I suspect he's never been in the water without his Peppa Pig arm floats.

11 hours ago, webfact said:

We need to respect our hosts and behave as good visitors when visiting the sea

Tell it to your  own Thai fishermen, the amount of  <deleted> they chuck  off  their  boats is incredible

They've arrested them both, a diving instructor and restaurant owner, and they are now under investigation regarding their employment status and, it sounds like, failing to report their address when moving into the area. 

A lot of very superior foreigners showing off their total ignorance in this thread. His comments in Thai don't really read as they're presented in English. 

1 hour ago, Boomer6969 said:

Yes but I have seen night dives on offer everywhere I have been to, and this little man seems to dislike that. Frankly I suspect he's never been in the water without his Peppa Pig arm floats.

Fully agree that night diving is a regular part of diving in general and is offered world wide.

6 hours ago, Benmart said:

I go, I look, I learn, and I leave. Be it at a temple, botanical garden or historical site, my curiosity is satisfied by research and not the disturbance of the subject. 

You have my respect sir.

4 hours ago, bodga said:

Tell it to your  own Thai fishermen, the amount of  <deleted> they chuck  off  their  boats is incredible

Divers should know better. 

16 hours ago, MRToMRT said:

Thailands leading. He's probably done more for marine conservation than any other person in Thailand. The real deal.

 

and yet......................................

Thailand's fishing industry is a disaster for the sea life, Maya Bay had to be closed because of damage done by THAI tour companies, the sea and beaches are polluted by industrial waste dumped in rivers and from fishing boats.

 

Sooooo, what exactly has he done other than complain about tourists touching aquatic life?