More Artificial Coral Reefs To Be Dropped

More artificial coral reefs to be dropped

BANGKOK, 17 January 2010 (NNT) – The Department of Fisheries is preparing to drop used garbage trucks and train carriages into the sea as artificial coral reefs along the coastal line of Pattani and Narathiwat provinces.

According to Fisheries Department Director-General, Somying Piumsomboon, the department will drop used 200 garbage trucks received from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, 25 used tanks from the military, and 59 used train carriages this May. The project was initiated to rehabilitate marine natural resources.

The director-general ensured that the used vehicles were safe for the environment since all the engines were removed. She added that there had been no danger found from the use of the vehicles as artificial coral reefs according to studies.

The department has dropped artificial coral reefs in 362 spots of 2,000 square kilometers along the coasts nationwide throughout 30 years of its operation. Artificial coral reefs have increased income of fisher folks by 20-30% since they do not have to go out far to trawl for fishes.

The department for this year has set plans to drop additional artificial coral reefs in 23 spots worth 66 million THB. The department will increase the amount to 100 million THB next year.

-- NNT 2010-01-18

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