Community Plankton Bloom Turns Si Racha Sea Green, Temporarily Halts Fishing Operations

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of kaoded.

 

An unusual natural phenomenon has caused the sea off Si Racha, Chonburi province, to change colour, turning a murky green and emitting a foul odour due to a plankton bloom. The incident has temporarily forced local fishermen to suspend their activities, though tourism in the area remains unaffected.

 

At around 13:00 on 4 June, residents along the Si Racha shoreline reported that the sea had turned a deep green. Some coastal marine life had washed ashore, dead or dying from a lack of oxygen. The occurrence, commonly known among locals as “whale faeces” or more scientifically as a plankton bloom, has been seen in the region before.

 

Experts attribute the phenomenon to unstable weather conditions in the days leading up to the event. Recent high winds and waves, measuring over two to three metres, combined with cooler temperatures, disrupted the underwater ecosystem. The turbulence brought an excess of green plankton to the surface, causing a drop in oxygen levels in the water, which in turn led to the death of some marine animals.

 

The bloom is believed to have been triggered when plankton and underwater vegetation were churned up by rough seas, intensifying the discolouration and odour of the seawater. This is expected to subside naturally within five to six days as the weather calms.

 

Local authorities have confirmed that tourism has not been affected. Visitors can continue to travel to Ko Loi Si Racha and other nearby attractions as usual, with no health risks reported. Environmental officials are monitoring the situation and advising fishermen to resume operations once marine conditions return to normal.

 

While disruptive to the fishing community, the plankton bloom is understood to be a natural and temporary ecological occurrence, with no long-term impact expected on the region’s marine biodiversity or tourism sector.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Kaoded 2025-06-05