Similan And Surin National Parks Diving Paradises May Be Closed

[moskito]

Should be some regulations about diving business,i've seen them arriving ,and within few years ,almost all the coral was dead...

This people are making a lot of money by selling air (compressed),but they don't spend much to care environment(except casually for promotion)

P.A.D.I=Put . Another . Dollar . In .....(more you pay ,more you earn)

What a bad system,coming from....U.S (of course)...

I agree that fishing boat are involved as well,but they are locals and they don't make that big money like diving schools...

I am not a diver Peter and i don't really think that you are either ? Your stupid remarks assume that divers 'cut their own throats' by mistreating the corals, i should think that is far from the true facts. The fishermen really dont care about whats under the surface as long as they are catching fish.

Sorry Mate but Peter is absolutely right here. PADI stinks, it always did. It is nothing more as a huge money printing machine on costs of natural enviroments all over the world. The most important thing is not to take care for the underwater enviroment, it is to make money. What do you think a so called diving shool cares if the new customer with just 5 dives has absolutely no idea? RIGHT, they want his money and will never tell him: ..."sorry Sir, today you have to dive only in an underwater desert, because we doesnt want you to break our corals..."

[webfact]

Phuket marine center moves to save bleached coral

Coral at Surin National Park.

PHUKET: -- The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) will today request that parts of the Similan and Surin national parks be closed to protect dying corals there.

DMCR Director-General Kasemssan Jinnawaso announced yesterday that his department would file the request with the National Parks, Wildlife and Plants Conservation Department, which manages the national parks.

“We will request closure of only certain parts within the Similan and Surin national parks. Tourists will still be able to dive in the parks, but certain parts will be off-limits to allow the coral to recover,” Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Director Wannakiat Thubthimsang told the Phuket Gazette last night.

“Officers in the parks will need to be more strict about park regulations, especially with tour boats and visitors dumping trash into the sea. We are still finding tourist trash, such as empty water bottles, beer cans and snack packets floating inside the parks,” Director Wannakiat said.

“Also, all boats entering the park must have septic tanks installed and operators will face stiff penalties for discharging their tanks inside the park,” he added.

The new measures being proposed are to protect corals already suffering from rising sea temperatures.

“Coral bleaching is from global warming, which is happening the world over. The ideal average sea water temperature for coral to grow is 29°C, but last year the average temperature at these dive sites rose above 30°C, and peaked around 33°C,” he explained.

“Coral needs zooxanthellae to survive. When temperatures rise, the zooxanthellae starts dying, and that means the coral starts dying, too,” he said.

Director Wannakiat explained that coral needs three to five years to mature to at least have a chance of surviving long enough for the zooxanthellae to return.

However, there will be no request to close the reefs off Phi Phi Island and Maithon Island, he added.

“The dominant species of coral there grows fast. The bleached areas there will take probably only a year to recover,” he said.

-- Phuket Gazette 2011-01-18

[007]

ere is *no* link between coral bleaching and diving. None. The presence of divers will *not* make bleaching worse. If you close the parks, this is what will happen:

* Bleaching goes unreported (no complaints => problem solved!!).

* Monitoring gets wound back, because nobody is complaining.

* Illegal fishing activity goes through the roof.

If he's worried about pollution he should get rid of the fishing boats instead. 95% of crap on the reefs is broken fishing gear.

Certainly true. Problem are all the boats, whether fishing or tour boats. After all, how do the divers get to the diving sites?

[Deeral]

Many of the comments here are quite unsubstantiated.

The suggestion that if it is not one thing it must be the other is just illogical.

The answer is most likely that the damage is the result of many things almost all of which are the result of human activity - trying to apportion the blame away from one cause , group or vested interest is of no use whatsoever and ignores the evidence.

Quite apart from the Thai authorities ignorant approach to this subject, I find it deeply disturbing that so many expats and other contributors on this forum - who presumably come from countries with highly developed long term conservation policies, have absolutely no idea themselves of the basic issues involved here.

for example - "The water is so clean and clear you'd swear you can see just as far as on the surface."

How on earth do you know it's CLEAN? you don't not without serious and controlled testing.

CLEAR water and good visibility can also be the result of DEAD water - no plankton or any living organisms floating in the water etc.

Apportioning blame - as far as I can see posters are blaming everything else EXCEPT their own particular cause - fishing, scuba etc.

To find out what is going on on a coral reef requires long term - permanent - and thorough monitoring. You need to now what is was like decades ago and compare the whole organism now.

To do this you need money and that will almost always come from government - either directly or indirectly and of course this govt sees no reason to do this.

Countries like Australia spend millions on conservation and the scientific analysis of such organisms as the great barrier reef and have been monitoring it for decades - Thailand has doe no such thing.

To come along now and blame water temperature as the one cause is ridiculous - what is causing this apparent rise? - after what? one half-baked study? - where is the info about this? who says? what is their research?

And the response - to shut the places down - well a typically unthought out nape-of-the-neck response.- by the Thai ignoramuses in charge.

Here's some other "howlers" - Suggestions that are totally meaningless, without foundation, unsubstantiated or just missing the point entirely.

"I worked as a dive Master at the Similians many years ago and as i recall divers do not use bleach."

"I would agree that the majority of the problem is caused by the illegal fishing boats, and crews. I haven't done any dives for a few years, but divers that I dove with took special care to leave the site as we found it."

"this had come from fishing boats that more up on the dive site at night."

"Some worst hit areas may have to be closed to tourists so that they could recover naturally. Bleaching, a natural phenomenon, has struck coral reefs around many islands including Similan and Surin. "

"Im sure the real reason is the rise in sea temperature rise. Global warming would cause the majority, if not all, of the bleaching."

"Fishing causes damage too, but without tourists, there wouldn't be such a big demand for fish."

"Divers scaring fish? The fish have gone because they've been netted and eaten!"

"Bleaching of reefs and the use of real bleach is 2 different things - however - the same results"

"This happens from time to time here on the Gt Barrier Reef, but it always seem to recover over time. "

"Your stupid remarks assume that divers 'cut their own throats' by mistreating the corals, i should think that is far from the true facts. The fishermen really dont care about whats under the surface as long as they are catching fish."

""I have already instructed authorities to conduct studies and introduce tangible steps to rehabilitate the coral reefs," he said. The new measures would also likely be introduced in areas with seaweed."

"Officials would also try to find out how to restore them"

"They have scared all the big fish away especially sharks who have very strong hearing and the noise of escaping bubbles spooks them."

"surely the moneys collected as park fees can get in specialists and tighten control."

" Farangs, do you feel the heat? The blame is coming on you, step by step as we were also to be blamed for introducing AIDS. No matter what goes wrong in Thailand: there are always the farangs to be blamed!"

"he dominant species of coral there grows fast. The bleached areas there will take probably only a year to recover" - as if this is a single species problem! - a coral reef is considered a SINGLE ORGANISM!!!!!

"there is *no* link between coral bleaching and diving. None. The presence of divers will *not* make bleaching worse. If you close the parks, this is what will happen:" -

Some "FACTS" - known to the Thai government. most are 5 to 10 years old.

Urgent action was needed was the conclusion of a report by Dept Matrine Science, Chulalonkhorn Uni back in the 90s

Phi Phi about 25% of coral os damaged or lost and this is likely to rise to 40% without changes.

90% of the worlds reefs are damaged by human activity - excluding the possible effects of global warming.

THailand is not ion the top twenty countries for coral reefs. - (there is a limited amount!)

"Seenprachawong an associate professor of environmental economics at Thailand's National Institute of Development Administration (NIDA). has translated the long-term impact of coral degradation into dollars and cents. He's taken into account the value of coral reefs for the tourism industry and for the environment. He's established an annual value for the region's coral reefs in excess of 28,100 million baht (approximately $1.1 billion). His work has paved the way for changes that could help reduce pressure on reefs and provide money for their conservation."

http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-12014-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html

This whole thing is just one more example in a catalog of disasters that define Thailand's disregard for its own natural resources which need LONG TERM policies in place and ENFORCED - to combat this. not knee-jerk reactions by ignorant nabobs who have no idea what they are talking about.

Edited January 18, 2011 by Deeral

[ourmanflint]

I'm glad that people are concerned about this and rightly so, but it seems very few people, divers included know much about corals and how they react to environmental conditions.

Corals are not seriously threatened by divers walking on them or breaking bits off accidentally or otherwise, it is preposterous to suggest it. Breakage is a natural occurence, storms, parrot fish, turtles and other things damage corals everyday breaking bits off to eat or to get to something to eat in the turtles case, Breaking a coral by stepping on it does very little damage, as the broken bit can easily recover in a few days and given a little room will grow again into a full sized specimen. The factors that do affect a corals growth are temperature and light. Heavy damage though by ships anchors is a different matter as this rips up the bases of the corals and this often leads to the whole coral dying as it tips over into the ocean floor and suffocates.

Pollution from boats must be a factor, though I have never read any papers on the effect of high levels of these kind of organics on coral health, so have no knowledge of exactly how it effects things. I suspect though that the symbiotic algae succumb to pollution first and that in turn can damage the coral.

On the bright side, species such as Acropora formosa, the stag's horn coral can grow up to 30cm per year under good conditions, as can some of the plating corals such as Montipora. The slow growth of smaller branching corals and particularly species such as Lobophyllia and favia and other "brain" corals is more of a concern.

The problem with Thailand though is corruption as we all know, and a closed park will only mean the taiwanese and chinese fishing boats as well as local ones will be left to their own devices, and the result will not be pretty. The demand for fish in Thailand is not governed by the numbers of tourists as some simpleton said earlier, but is an international problem centering on China's massive growth as a consumer of all things. This is particularly the case with the explosion in demand of shark fin for soup. Thailand will do nothing as usual and in 10 years time everywhere will be as dead as the gulf of Thailand.

[Deeral]

I'm glad that people are concerned about this and rightly so, but it seems very few people, divers included know much about corals and how they react to environmental conditions.

Corals are not seriously threatened by divers walking on them or breaking bits off accidentally or otherwise, it is preposterous to suggest it. Breakage is a natural occurence, storms, parrot fish, turtles and other things damage corals everyday breaking bits off to eat or to get to something to eat in the turtles case, Breaking a coral by stepping on it does very little damage, as the broken bit can easily recover in a few days and given a little room will grow again into a full sized specimen. The factors that do affect a corals growth are temperature and light. Heavy damage though by ships anchors is a different matter as this rips up the bases of the corals and this often leads to the whole coral dying as it tips over into the ocean floor and suffocates.

Pollution from boats must be a factor, though I have never read any papers on the effect of high levels of these kind of organics on coral health, so have no knowledge of exactly how it effects things. I suspect though that the symbiotic algae succumb to pollution first and that in turn can damage the coral.

On the bright side, species such as Acropora formosa, the stag's horn coral can grow up to 30cm per year under good conditions, as can some of the plating corals such as Montipora. The slow growth of smaller branching corals and particularly species such as Lobophyllia and favia and other "brain" corals is more of a concern.

The problem with Thailand though is corruption as we all know, and a closed park will only mean the taiwanese and chinese fishing boats as well as local ones will be left to their own devices, and the result will not be pretty. The demand for fish in Thailand is not governed by the numbers of tourists as some simpleton said earlier, but is an international problem centering on China's massive growth as a consumer of all things. This is particularly the case with the explosion in demand of shark fin for soup. Thailand will do nothing as usual and in 10 years time everywhere will be as dead as the gulf of Thailand.

In fact there is a lot of evidence gathered that suggests reefs ARE susceptible to damage by divers. Certain reefs are now looking at limiting the number of dives per annum.

THese numbers are in the thousands - but there is a threshold where damage to the reef becomes serious. Breaking of coral is not the only problem caused by divers - simply TOUCHING or brushing against corals can damage them.

THe other factor is of course the theft of corals for resale - the US being the largest market for this.

[Lobin]

interesting read

[Deeral]

interesting read

The partial recovery has taken nearly 10 years...in a site with very low interference.

THere is also a huge problem of enforcement of this declared zone. THe islanders have very little money and no ships/boats to patrol with. If I remember they are reliant on a patrol boat a on from Australia - or some such thing.

It shows that even the most remote areas are not safe from human damage.However Thailand does not have vast areas of coral - in fact it's quite small and near to human developments - so the precarious situation is much worse and recovery is very unlikely, even in a decade even if the place was completely shut down.

[ryladie99]

I didn't realise things were so bad. Saw a lot of bleaching last year near Phi Phi, but nowhere near 90%. Unfortunately closing the parks to the public will more likely than not be an open invitation to illegal fishing boats to plunder the area. If there are no boats around to keep an eye open, that is what will happen. Corals are pretty resilient though so growth to current levels will probably take no more than 15-20 years for most species, though for some slow growing types it will be a lot longer. Very sad anyway.

I like your post and it is too bad the government has to shut both parks down. You are so right about 15 and 20 years to catch up for Corals. There are nothing to be done except closing the parks down. Happy Chinese New year. My take.

[RedQualia]

Nha Trang, Vietnam, has a marine reserve. Nothing in it except fishing boats, near as I can tell. Dive shop there said that there used to be a one toothed moray, but that he's now in the tourist aquarium.

What happened to the corals around Pattaya? I can't be sure, but sure looks like dynamite. And why are there only aquarium size fish around Koh Tao? Or at least, why didn't I see larger?

Sad to read an earlier post describing the lack of sharks in the Similans and Surins. Somehow, I just don't think divers are responsible for a loss like that, any more than they're responsible for the mounds of cuttlefish bones in the fishing villages.

Very worried about the seas. It's ok with me then, if the number of divers might be limited in one way or another. Seeing one set of herding Japanese divers in their brand new matching multi-colored underwater leotards collectively clinging to a sea mount is enough. Seeing several sets daily is too much.

But the fishing boats will need to be even more limited if the Similans and Surins are to return to anywhere near their former glory.

Oh, and while they're at it, they need to eradicate the "crown of thorns" starfish from the area. After all, they eat the living part of hard corals, leaving it looking bleached.

Edited January 18, 2011 by RedQualia

[webfact]

Reefs ruined: dive sites face closure

By Janjira Pongrai

The Nation

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) has recommended that 10 diving sites inside marine national parks be closed so damaged coral reefs can recover.

However, the final decision would still rest with the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP).

The sites are Hin Klang off Phi Phi, Mae Yai Tai Peninsula off North Surin Island, the area to the east of South Surin Island, Chong Khad Bay off North Surin Island, Kangkao and Pai Islands in Chon Buri, Yak Island in Trat, Chaloke Ban Kao Bay, Tanod Bay and Surat Thani's Nuansai Beach.

"The coral reefs in these areas have been severely damaged," DMCR director-general Kasemsan Jinnawaso told the press yesterday, adding that he would ask the chiefs of all 26 marine national parks to keep an eye on tourists' activities that could hurt the local environment.

The final decision still lies in the hands of the DNP, he said.

"Closing diving attractions in the Andaman Sea could affect tourism in the area," Kasemsan said.

Nipon Pongsuwan, an academic working with the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, said there were nearly 100,000 rai of coral reefs in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand, but almost 90 per cent of them have been ruined.

"The situation is much more severe than it was in 1991 and 1995," he said, adding that he was most concerned about the situation in Khai Nok Island of Phang Nga, as well as Miang Island and Similan Islands.

Nipon said some spots would have to be closed for five to 10 years if the coral reefs were to recover naturally. "The natural process of deep-sea coral reefs' rehabilitation may take up to 20 years," he added.

DNP deputy director-general Thirapat Prayoonsit said his agency and officials from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry would inspect the coral reefs in the different areas before deciding which sites should be kept off-limits to tourists.

"We will announce the decision soon," he said.

Sak-anan Plathong, a lecturer at the Prince of Songkhla University, lamented the authorities' delayed reaction. "We voiced our concerns months ago," he said, adding that the Surin Islands and many parts of the Similan Islands would have to be closed.

-- The Nation 2011-01-19

[Deeral]

Someone appears to have realised how much damage has been done, and finally got through to the "power elite"BUT.....

THis now requires some careful and intelligent action - I despair at the chances of that happening.

THey seem to think if they close the reef to DIVERS for 10 years - that it will be a solution????????

It has been shown time and time again that diving is not the only cause of damage - it IS a cause but there are several other causes too and they MUST be addressed.

What appears to be happening is what always seems to happen in Thailand - a problem arises and some STUPID UNINFORMED NABOB makes a knee-jerk decision - usually from inside a toilet - and then emerges, adjusts his white quasi-military uniform and foists it upon his unsuspecting, subservient and compliant subordinates who then attempt to try and enact it in some befuddled manner..

What is needed here is a comprehensive approach involving all aspects of marine activity and conservation.Shipping, tourism, pollution all need to e take into account, this requires in depth studies by qualified experts..

By all means close the parks for a start, to allow studies to take place, but if they think this is the solution they are simply deceiving themselves.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Deeral

[Soupdragon]

No matter, though, I'm sure 'your reefs' will recover just in time for Burma to open back up and provide divers with a real delight right up the Andaman.

I think you will find that Burmese fishermen have been busy for years dynamiting their own reefs systematically destroying many square kilometres. Still happening as I type.

What appears to be happening is what always seems to happen in Thailand - a problem arises and some STUPID UNINFORMED NABOB makes a knee-jerk decision - usually from inside a toilet - and then emerges, adjusts his white quasi-military uniform and foists it upon his unsuspecting, subservient and compliant subordinates who then attempt to try and enact it in some befuddled manner..

What is needed here is a comprehensive approach involving all aspects of marine activity and conservation.Shipping, tourism, pollution all need to e take into account, this requires in depth studies by qualified experts..

By all means close the parks for a start, to allow studies to take place, but if they think this is the solution they are simply deceiving themselves.

Well said. The national parks of Similan and Surin have been grossly mismanged for years in the name of profit. Now someone without the knowledge or experience who is far to busy looking important to educate himself of the facts attempts a "silver bullet" solution.

[siamdivers]

interesting read

Yes, a good read, that was in the newspapers in the US while I was visiting there a few weeks ago.

What I have not seen mentioned so far on these threads is that 'way back' in 1990, there was a similar bleaching event in the Andaman Sea. I knew nothing about coral bleaching at the time, but soon began reading on the subject. I was living on Phi Phi Island that summer and watched it happen every day, then when the Similan season started that October, saw the results of it there too and at Hin Daeng and Hin Meuang. The effects seemed devastating. I thought that that was the end of coral reefs in the Andaman Sea. I was so wrong.

This one seems to be possibly a bit worse, and that could be because of the other pressures the reefs are getting now as mentioned by others, or it could be it was simply a stronger event as temperatures remained high longer than they did 20 years ago. Everything effects our ocean environment, from temperatures, to over population, golf courses, pesticides, construction projects large and small (yes, your house too), burning gasoline, etc. Every human activity effects coral reefs.

Nature effects coral reefs too in a very big way. Coral bleaching has been around a long time, it's not a new thing at all and it's more of a Pacific event than an Indian Ocean event. Just like with storms, reefs are destroyed and regenerate. You can liken it to a forest fire. Crown of Thorns starfish play a similar role and have been very destructive in some places, and in other places not so much.

The problems that no one seems to either remember nor discuss when these types of things come up was the fact that early on, the parks we are discussing were under severe threat from all kinds of things; boat anchors (both large and small--I watched 300 meters of anchor chain from a 60 meter small cruise ship completely wrap around, tear up, and destroy a reef at the east side of Island 5); destructive fishing practices including cyanide poisoning, using bleach to catch aquarium fish, shells, or crayfish; dynamite fishing (this was very common in the Similans and Richelieu); and fishing using nets that not only catch fish which were too small, but got caught on the reefs destroying habitat.

There were also a group of fisherman who were actually cutting--with bolt cutters--sea fans off reefs such as at Koh Bon for sale to middlemen to sell to aquarists around the world. There were also boats, tour boats and fishing boats dumping sewage and other waste directly onto the coral reefs. I think the anchors were doing the most damage, it was the most visual anyway. I never saw dynamite fishing destroy a swath of reef 300 meters long from one night to the next morning. It broke my heart to see that, and nothing ever happened to the irresponsible captain who anchored a large ship too close to the reef.

What frustrates me is that those problems can be solved easily. Coral bleaching is a harder problem as there is no direct cause and effect. It's impossible to make short term decisions without possibly causing more problems.

Some of those practices are almost gone these days. Anchoring now is restricted (begun by dive boat operators, later taken over by the government). Dynamite fishing has almost completely stopped at these places (but still happens other places).

Others are not like like the fact that although fishing is illegal, fishing boats still fish and authorities look the other way. But no one who has been here for more than five minutes should be surprised by that.

We have new problems with over crowding in these parks, but let's not forget that the parks were always under pressure, and these problems have been more or less solved. Banning people from visiting these parks will only make it worse as there will be no one to monitor the reefs and report.

[siamdivers]

(I posted this in two threads Mr Forum Monitor, I hope that's OK.)

What I have not seen mentioned so far on these threads is that 'way back' in 1990, there was a similar bleaching event in the Andaman Sea. I knew nothing about coral bleaching at the time, but soon began reading on the subject. I was living on Phi Phi Island that summer and watched it happen every day, then when the Similan season started that October, saw the results of it there too and at Hin Daeng and Hin Meuang. The effects seemed devastating. I thought that that was the end of coral reefs in the Andaman Sea. I was so wrong.

This one seems to be possibly a bit worse, and that could be because of the other pressures the reefs are getting now as mentioned by others, or it could be it was simply a stronger event as temperatures remained high longer than they did 20 years ago. Everything effects our ocean environment, from temperatures, to over population, golf courses, pesticides, construction projects large and small (yes, your house too), burning gasoline, etc. Every human activity effects coral reefs.

Nature effects coral reefs too in a very big way. Coral bleaching has been around a long time, it's not a new thing at all and it's more of a Pacific event than an Indian Ocean event. Just like with storms, reefs are destroyed and regenerate. You can liken it to a forest fire. Crown of Thorns starfish play a similar role and have been very destructive in some places, and in other places not so much.

The problems that no one seems to either remember nor discuss when these types of things come up was the fact that early on, the parks we are discussing were under severe threat from all kinds of things; boat anchors (both large and small--I watched 300 meters of anchor chain from a 60 meter small cruise ship completely wrap around, tear up, and destroy a reef at the east side of Island 5); destructive fishing practices including cyanide poisoning, using bleach to catch aquarium fish, shells, or crayfish; dynamite fishing (this was very common in the Similans and Richelieu); and fishing using nets that not only catch fish which were too small, but got caught on the reefs destroying habitat.

There were also a group of fisherman who were actually cutting--with bolt cutters--sea fans off reefs such as at Koh Bon for sale to middlemen to sell to aquarists around the world. There were also boats, tour boats and fishing boats dumping sewage and other waste directly onto the coral reefs. I think the anchors were doing the most damage, it was the most visual anyway. I never saw dynamite fishing destroy a swath of reef 300 meters long from one night to the next morning. It broke my heart to see that, and nothing ever happened to the irresponsible captain who anchored a large ship too close to the reef.

What frustrates me is that those problems can be solved easily. Coral bleaching is a harder problem as there is no direct cause and effect. It's impossible to make short term decisions without possibly causing more problems.

Some of those practices are almost gone these days. Anchoring now is restricted (begun by dive boat operators, later taken over by the government). Dynamite fishing has almost completely stopped at these places (but still happens other places).

Others are not like like the fact that although fishing is illegal, fishing boats still fish and authorities look the other way. But no one who has been here for more than five minutes should be surprised by that.

We have new problems with over crowding in these parks, but let's not forget that the parks were always under pressure, and these problems have been more or less solved. Banning people from visiting these parks will only make it worse as there will be no one to monitor the reefs and report.

[Soupdragon]

(I posted this in two threads Mr Forum Monitor, I hope that's OK.)

What I have not seen mentioned so far on these threads is that 'way back' in 1990, there was a similar bleaching event in the Andaman Sea. I knew nothing about coral bleaching at the time, but soon began reading on the subject. I was living on Phi Phi Island that summer and watched it happen every day, then when the Similan season started that October, saw the results of it there too and at Hin Daeng and Hin Meuang. The effects seemed devastating. I thought that that was the end of coral reefs in the Andaman Sea. I was so wrong.

This one seems to be possibly a bit worse, and that could be because of the other pressures the reefs are getting now as mentioned by others, or it could be it was simply a stronger event as temperatures remained high longer than they did 20 years ago. Everything effects our ocean environment, from temperatures, to over population, golf courses, pesticides, construction projects large and small (yes, your house too), burning gasoline, etc. Every human activity effects coral reefs.

Nature effects coral reefs too in a very big way. Coral bleaching has been around a long time, it's not a new thing at all and it's more of a Pacific event than an Indian Ocean event. Just like with storms, reefs are destroyed and regenerate. You can liken it to a forest fire. Crown of Thorns starfish play a similar role and have been very destructive in some places, and in other places not so much.

The problems that no one seems to either remember nor discuss when these types of things come up was the fact that early on, the parks we are discussing were under severe threat from all kinds of things; boat anchors (both large and small--I watched 300 meters of anchor chain from a 60 meter small cruise ship completely wrap around, tear up, and destroy a reef at the east side of Island 5); destructive fishing practices including cyanide poisoning, using bleach to catch aquarium fish, shells, or crayfish; dynamite fishing (this was very common in the Similans and Richelieu); and fishing using nets that not only catch fish which were too small, but got caught on the reefs destroying habitat.

There were also a group of fisherman who were actually cutting--with bolt cutters--sea fans off reefs such as at Koh Bon for sale to middlemen to sell to aquarists around the world. There were also boats, tour boats and fishing boats dumping sewage and other waste directly onto the coral reefs. I think the anchors were doing the most damage, it was the most visual anyway. I never saw dynamite fishing destroy a swath of reef 300 meters long from one night to the next morning. It broke my heart to see that, and nothing ever happened to the irresponsible captain who anchored a large ship too close to the reef.

What frustrates me is that those problems can be solved easily. Coral bleaching is a harder problem as there is no direct cause and effect. It's impossible to make short term decisions without possibly causing more problems.

Some of those practices are almost gone these days. Anchoring now is restricted (begun by dive boat operators, later taken over by the government). Dynamite fishing has almost completely stopped at these places (but still happens other places).

Others are not like like the fact that although fishing is illegal, fishing boats still fish and authorities look the other way. But no one who has been here for more than five minutes should be surprised by that.

We have new problems with over crowding in these parks, but let's not forget that the parks were always under pressure, and these problems have been more or less solved. Banning people from visiting these parks will only make it worse as there will be no one to monitor the reefs and report.

You make some good points. I was diving on Phi Phi during the coral bleaching event you mention and I too thought at the time that the reef (particularly the Staghorn forest on Bida Nai) was finished. It recovered remarkably quickly.

A couple of points I would like to add. The supervision of large groups of divers IMHO is sadly lacking. Divemasters eager to solicit tips from their divers are unlikely to be as hard on careless divers as maybe they should be, Also operators receiving complaints from customers that a divemaster had spoken to them in a way they are not accustomed to, i.e. bollocked them for damaging the reef would probably resulting in the DM losing his/her job.

The growth in the popularity of underwater digital cameras used by people with insufficient bouyancy skills to approach corals without crashing into them, or forgetting they are wearing fins and kicking whatever is behind them has also made the problem of accidental contact with the reef much worse.

Ban gloves. Anyone who says they need them to protect their hands from damage should be reminded if they don't touch anything they will be fine.

Edited January 19, 2011 by Soupdragon

[Crushdepth]

To come along now and blame water temperature as the one cause is ridiculous - what is causing this apparent rise? - after what? one half-baked study? - where is the info about this? who says? what is their research?

Actually it is a well established fact supported by legions of studies. Nobody seriously disputes that high temperatures are the principle cause of mass bleaching (though they are not the only cause).

It has been shown time and time again that diving is not the only cause of damage - it IS a cause but there are several other causes too and they MUST be addressed.

Diving is a *trivial* cause of physical damage to corals and - just to be absolutely clear - is *not* a cause of coral bleaching, which is a separate issue. I worked on a tourist platform on the Great Barrier Reef with about 50,000 visitors per year snorkeling and diving along a 200 metre stretch of reef, so the visitor pressure was about as intense as you can get. We had a long-term monitoring programme in place from one of the universities observing snorkeler behaviour (they would swim around behind people) and monitor damage to the reef caused by their fins etc.

That section of reef still looked in quite good condition, even after years of operation. When we moved the platform a few hundred metres to link it to a second one, within 6 months, you could not see any sign of damage on the original site. It had grown back and recovered. Inexperienced people can knock the tips off staghorn coral with their fins, but that's about it. Frankly, I think spending a few minutes watching a school of parrotfish feed might help put the issue into perspective.

The idea that diving is some evil reef-destroying activity is patently ridiculous. Suggesting that it causes coral bleaching smacks of an emotive, political argument by the DG to further some other agenda.

It speaks volumes that he didn't mention fishing boats.

[siamdivers]

You make some good points. I was diving on Phi Phi during the coral bleaching event you mention and I too thought at the time that the reef (particularly the Staghorn forest on Bida Nai) was finished. It recovered remarkably quickly.

A couple of points I would like to add. The supervision of large groups of divers IMHO is sadly lacking. Divemasters eager to solicit tips from their divers are unlikely to be as hard on careless divers as maybe they should be, Also operators receiving complaints from customers that a divemaster had spoken to them in a way they are not accustomed to, i.e. bollocked them for damaging the reef would probably resulting in the DM losing his/her job.

The growth in the popularity of underwater digital cameras used by people with insufficient bouyancy skills to approach corals without crashing into them, or forgetting they are wearing fins and kicking whatever is behind them has also made the problem of accidental contact with the reef much worse.

Ban gloves. Anyone who says they need them to protect their hands from damage should be reminded if they don't touch anything they will be fine.

Yes, I agree that there are a lot of problems that need attending to in the diving industry as well as with the government's enforcement of regulations concerning fishing and boating. I was trying to point out to everyone that this is not the first time the bleaching has happened. Everyone seems to think this event was the first time. It has also happened very recently in Palau, the Maldives, parts of Indonesia, the Andaman Islands, Tahiti, and Australia. This is a global problem, not a local problem (if it is a problem, it may just be a cycle like forest fires).

The Maldives lost 98% of their corals (according to many estimates), in 1998 but that doesn't mean that people had to stop visiting the Maldives. What a disaster that would be.

To your excellent points, large groups should not be happening at all, I have said for years that restrictions on the numbers entering national parks should be enforced. In the Similans, the addition of speedboats, students, and day trippers really has contributed to the overuse of the park.

I have not heard of divemasters being reprimanded for correcting bad diver behavior. I suppose it goes on, what doesn't these days, but overall the divemasters and dive shop owners that I know and work with are diligent about this. It's impossible to control everything a diver does, but I think most of them try. I don't dive all of the time any longer, but when I go out and see the divemasters, I see an almost over control of divers rather than under control. Maybe I am seeing that through rose colored glasses.

But, we're getting off topic, it's the bleaching and the possible silly closure of the park to everyone which is foremost in my mind now. Closing the park will not solve the problem of bleaching nor will it correct it.

[Deeral]

To come along now and blame water temperature as the one cause is ridiculous - what is causing this apparent rise? - after what? one half-baked study? - where is the info about this? who says? what is their research?

Actually it is a well established fact supported by legions of studies. Nobody seriously disputes that high temperatures are the principle cause of mass bleaching (though they are not the only cause).

It has been shown time and time again that diving is not the only cause of damage - it IS a cause but there are several other causes too and they MUST be addressed.

Diving is a *trivial* cause of physical damage to corals and - just to be absolutely clear - is *not* a cause of coral bleaching, which is a separate issue. I worked on a tourist platform on the Great Barrier Reef with about 50,000 visitors per year snorkeling and diving along a 200 metre stretch of reef, so the visitor pressure was about as intense as you can get. We had a long-term monitoring programme in place from one of the universities observing snorkeler behaviour (they would swim around behind people) and monitor damage to the reef caused by their fins etc.

That section of reef still looked in quite good condition, even after years of operation. When we moved the platform a few hundred metres to link it to a second one, within 6 months, you could not see any sign of damage on the original site. It had grown back and recovered. Inexperienced people can knock the tips off staghorn coral with their fins, but that's about it. Frankly, I think spending a few minutes watching a school of parrotfish feed might help put the issue into perspective.

The idea that diving is some evil reef-destroying activity is patently ridiculous. Suggesting that it causes coral bleaching smacks of an emotive, political argument by the DG to further some other agenda.

It speaks volumes that he didn't mention fishing boats.

Now go and read up!

Diving is NOT a trivial cause of damage.As for reports I'm saying correctly that there is not enough info gathered on these sites to make an informed decision.

Please do NOT let your diving bias get in the way of your understanding of the MULTIPLE causes of reef damage.

[h90]

To come along now and blame water temperature as the one cause is ridiculous - what is causing this apparent rise? - after what? one half-baked study? - where is the info about this? who says? what is their research?

Actually it is a well established fact supported by legions of studies. Nobody seriously disputes that high temperatures are the principle cause of mass bleaching (though they are not the only cause).

It has been shown time and time again that diving is not the only cause of damage - it IS a cause but there are several other causes too and they MUST be addressed.

Diving is a *trivial* cause of physical damage to corals and - just to be absolutely clear - is *not* a cause of coral bleaching, which is a separate issue. I worked on a tourist platform on the Great Barrier Reef with about 50,000 visitors per year snorkeling and diving along a 200 metre stretch of reef, so the visitor pressure was about as intense as you can get. We had a long-term monitoring programme in place from one of the universities observing snorkeler behaviour (they would swim around behind people) and monitor damage to the reef caused by their fins etc.

That section of reef still looked in quite good condition, even after years of operation. When we moved the platform a few hundred metres to link it to a second one, within 6 months, you could not see any sign of damage on the original site. It had grown back and recovered. Inexperienced people can knock the tips off staghorn coral with their fins, but that's about it. Frankly, I think spending a few minutes watching a school of parrotfish feed might help put the issue into perspective.

The idea that diving is some evil reef-destroying activity is patently ridiculous. Suggesting that it causes coral bleaching smacks of an emotive, political argument by the DG to further some other agenda.

It speaks volumes that he didn't mention fishing boats.

Now go and read up!

Diving is NOT a trivial cause of damage.As for reports I'm saying correctly that there is not enough info gathered on these sites to make an informed decision.

Please do NOT let your diving bias get in the way of your understanding of the MULTIPLE causes of reef damage.

that is ridiculous, one or the other diver may brake a little bit of coral, while the fisher crash with the net over it and flatten large area and take out everything including turtles. Fining Sharks and Mantas is NOT made by the diver. Some diver may use suncream which is bad, but there are the large factories which just put all their waste in the sea, including the hard-crome shops.

[Deeral]

[

To come along now and blame water temperature as the one cause is ridiculous - what is causing this apparent rise? - after what? one half-baked study? - where is the info about this? who says? what is their research?

Actually it is a well established fact supported by legions of studies. Nobody seriously disputes that high temperatures are the principle cause of mass bleaching (though they are not the only cause).

It has been shown time and time again that diving is not the only cause of damage - it IS a cause but there are several other causes too and they MUST be addressed.

Diving is a *trivial* cause of physical damage to corals and - just to be absolutely clear - is *not* a cause of coral bleaching, which is a separate issue. I worked on a tourist platform on the Great Barrier Reef with about 50,000 visitors per year snorkeling and diving along a 200 metre stretch of reef, so the visitor pressure was about as intense as you can get. We had a long-term monitoring programme in place from one of the universities observing snorkeler behaviour (they would swim around behind people) and monitor damage to the reef caused by their fins etc.

That section of reef still looked in quite good condition, even after years of operation. When we moved the platform a few hundred metres to link it to a second one, within 6 months, you could not see any sign of damage on the original site. It had grown back and recovered. Inexperienced people can knock the tips off staghorn coral with their fins, but that's about it. Frankly, I think spending a few minutes watching a school of parrotfish feed might help put the issue into perspective.

The idea that diving is some evil reef-destroying activity is patently ridiculous. Suggesting that it causes coral bleaching smacks of an emotive, political argument by the DG to further some other agenda.

It speaks volumes that he didn't mention fishing boats.

Now go and read up!

Diving is NOT a trivial cause of damage.As for reports I'm saying correctly that there is not enough info gathered on these sites to make an informed decision.

Please do NOT let your diving bias get in the way of your understanding of the MULTIPLE causes of reef damage.

that is ridiculous, one or the other diver may brake a little bit of coral, while the fisher crash with the net over it and flatten large area and take out everything including turtles. Fining Sharks and Mantas is NOT made by the diver. Some diver may use suncream which is bad, but there are the large factories which just put all their waste in the sea, including the hard-crome shops.

]

This just shows how little this poster understands the problem either from a diving point of view or the fragility of coral.

Just touching or brushing past coral can damage it - you don't have to stand on it or break it. disturbing sediments nearby can upset the water temp and sediments can settle on the coral, it takes YEARS for the coral top recover.

please if you want to voice an opinion at least get up to speed on the topic!All the equipment paraphernalia too has effects - bashing the coral and polluting the surrounding water.

[crazygreg44]

I was on the Similan two years ago. We arrived at the islands 1,2,3 short after nightfall , just to see hundreds of light of illegal fishing boats floating around and forming a ring around the islands. All this activivty happens all year round ( you just don t see it as in the daytime they hide and hardly any snorkeling- diving live aboursd are going into this area.

I noticed a lot of these fishing boats are leaking, and have poorly maintenanced engines, all leaking oil and fuels. Also , trash, broken fishing nets, waste, feces, all is thrown overboard. no wonder coral reef are suffering. I don t hink divers are doing much harm to the reefs. The intensive fishing inside a national park , paid with tea money into the hands of the few who are supposed to watch over the fishing ban, is the worst thing that ever can happen to the archipelago. We went to see all the island and around them of the Similan group, so I can speak for what I have witnessed. Around and near the anchoring spots for the fisheries, the water is shiney rainbow from all the leaked fuel. If Mister General wants to see results and protect the area, he is supposed to kick out all these illegal fisheries. Also, the decline of Tuna , Makarel, Barracuda and Sharks is a direct result of cutting right through the migration routes of these fish with big nets , literally sipping off all larger than a finger sea life.

Yes, there is tons of fishing boats every where, from Phuket to Similan and from Tab Lamu to Similan, but the boats wit the lights are actually fishing for squid, these are attracted by the lights.

Have to agree with the nets, I remember some 3,4 years ago, when we arrived at Richelieu Rock for the very first dive of the season there. We must have been the first live aboard there.

The whole rock from bottom to top was covered with a huge net, could not have been long, probably just the night before, as the majority of fish was not dead yet. Fish as small as Clown Fish were caught in it. It took us 3 dives to remove 2/3 of the net. The rest must have been removed by other boats the following days.

I want to make clear I did not write about any ligths on these boats that used to catch squid. I am speaking about the simple position lights what I saw ! Literally hundreds of boats had formed a line , like pearls on a string, and cut of the sounds between all three islands. Given it a short thinking it looked like they were working with one huge net combined of smaller nets attached to each other, in order to cut off a whole 10- 15 sea miles of open waters and the migration route of fish between the islands ( larger fish feed often between the 15 and 50 meter depths off islands rock )

[montrii]

I've dived in many locations all around Thailand, including a 3-day trip to the Similans some years ago. Agree with those who say divers are highly aware and very careful of the ecological balance. That said, I think there are just too many dive boats. There must have been 5 boats, maybe 20 divers each, anchored near each other every night. All that raw sewage going into the water, I can't help but think it's too much. Some sort of regulation probably should be done . . . as noted, some areas have already been closed, but I don't think shutting down the diving industry will help things. Really has to be some serious search for solutions, though!

Regarding water temperature, not much we can do locally about that--just support the foundations that are working to raise awareness, and do as much as we can to change the laws of our own countries where we should.

Regarding illegal fishing, yup, that's got to be dealt with, and must surely be a much worse problem than divers ever could be. Like everything else in Thai commerce and politics, not being dealt with properly yet, may never be.

So, what's the point of my post? Just another expression of frustration, another call for some kind of action. Wish I were in a position to do more about this, or for that matter, many another problem.

[thcmm]

The said bleaching event was well under way back in May of 2010 and peaking during the The Second Asia Pacific Coral Reef Symposium held on Phuket (June 20-24, 2010). I attended the symposium and personally witnessed a general lack of concern by so called "coral experts" in Thailand and abroad even though Phuket had, by that time, already suffered at least 40% mortality within the Acropora species alone. Koh Samui and Koh Tao were also heavily hit.

Ironically, there is a method of coral reef restoration already available in Thailand which is being totally ignored by policy makers. It is called Biorock, projects have been implemented on Koh Samui, Koh Tan and Koh Tao, as well as in 20 other countries. In fact, on Koh Tao, the local environmental group "Save Koh Tao" published very interesting survival statistics which they had observed during the 2010 bleaching event. Their data clearly shows how effective Biorock was in preventing mass bleaching of some species residing on Biorock structures. More information is here:

http://www.marinecon...id=53&Itemid=59

For those interested in bleaching, there is a series of videos taken at Chaweng beach on Koh Samui during the peak of bleaching located on YouTube "TheBiorockChannel" here is a link to on:

There are also several interesting video interviews with Dr. Thomas Goreau (President of the Global Coral Reef Alliance http://www.globalcoral.org ) who was in Thailand during the bleaching event offering his perspective.

I find it extremely troublesome when highly effective solutions such as Biorock are purposely ignored while other methods which clearly fall short of their claims, such as those employing the dumping of concrete forms, are widely accepted and promoted in the region.

One might be lead to suspect that the powers that be may have vested interests in the concrete industry?

I have resided in Thailand for more than 10 years working in dive and marine related industries and have had the opportunity to work with several of Thailand's leading coral experts. The majority of these people are tuned into all the issues this thread explores. They too know what the problems are and how to effectively reduce negative impacts on marine environments however, they too are powerless. Only Thailand's policy makers can pass the necessary legislation required to bring about change, but as long as they continue down the popular path of ignorance we are all going to be screwed!

[h90]

This just shows how little this poster understands the problem either from a diving point of view or the fragility of coral.

Just touching or brushing past coral can damage it - you don't have to stand on it or break it. disturbing sediments nearby can upset the water temp and sediments can settle on the coral, it takes YEARS for the coral top recover.

please if you want to voice an opinion at least get up to speed on the topic!All the equipment paraphernalia too has effects - bashing the coral and polluting the surrounding water.

you know that a coral can grow 30 cm per year? That a broken part can grow to a new one? The made complete new areas with corals by simply putting branches in concrete (on the land) and than put that all in the water. Mechanically damage is not what really harms the corrals. Alone look at the fishes that eats the corrals.

polluting the water IS a problem. It should be made a law that ALL boats need to have containers for their waste water. (I don't think that the fishermen who are fishing in the national parks don't put all their wastes in the water).

Actually without diver most of the marine national parks wouldn't be national parks at all.

(fixed the quotes)

[ourmanflint]

This just shows how little this poster understands the problem either from a diving point of view or the fragility of coral.

Just touching or brushing past coral can damage it - you don't have to stand on it or break it. disturbing sediments nearby can upset the water temp and sediments can settle on the coral, it takes YEARS for the coral top recover.

please if you want to voice an opinion at least get up to speed on the topic!All the equipment paraphernalia too has effects - bashing the coral and polluting the surrounding water.

Sorry Deeral you're just making yourself look stupid. I have kept and grown corals for many years growing them from small frags into large adult specimens in 12-18 months. You know very little about coral growth rates, or their ability to protect themselves from damage by producing mucus. You pass on age old myths about damaging corals simply by brushing them or touching them. This is absolutely untrue. Please don't spew out bad eco friendly crap you may have read by some semi educated dive master thinking he knows all about coral biology because he dives on a reef everyday. Corals are nowhere near as fragile as you think, I cannot think of any coral that is damaged by touch, not even seafans. The real danger as you should know is to the person touching the corals especially with their skin, as coral mucus is about as nasty a product as you will find in the ocean, full of bacteria and if it gets into a cut you will be in for a lot of discomfort.

I'm not saying divers should not be careful, but spouting this stuff always makes me angry, as there is no truth in it whatsoever. I have had the same arguments with dozens of so called dive masters who think they actually know what they are talking about but couldn't name or identify any species of coral definitively at all.

You probably think I'm evil though for keeping corals at all.

[Deeral]

This just shows how little this poster understands the problem either from a diving point of view or the fragility of coral.

Just touching or brushing past coral can damage it - you don't have to stand on it or break it. disturbing sediments nearby can upset the water temp and sediments can settle on the coral, it takes YEARS for the coral top recover.

please if you want to voice an opinion at least get up to speed on the topic!All the equipment paraphernalia too has effects - bashing the coral and polluting the surrounding water.

Sorry Deeral you're just making yourself look stupid. I have kept and grown corals for many years growing them from small frags into large adult specimens in 12-18 months. You know very little about coral growth rates, or their ability to protect themselves from damage by producing mucus. You pass on age old myths about damaging corals simply by brushing them or touching them. This is absolutely untrue. Please don't spew out bad eco friendly crap you may have read by some semi educated dive master thinking he knows all about coral biology because he dives on a reef everyday. Corals are nowhere near as fragile as you think, I cannot think of any coral that is damaged by touch, not even seafans. The real danger as you should know is to the person touching the corals especially with their skin, as coral mucus is about as nasty a product as you will find in the ocean, full of bacteria and if it gets into a cut you will be in for a lot of discomfort.

I'm not saying divers should not be careful, but spouting this stuff always makes me angry, as there is no truth in it whatsoever. I have had the same arguments with dozens of so called dive masters who think they actually know what they are talking about but couldn't name or identify any species of coral definitively at all.

You probably think I'm evil though for keeping corals at all.

"acoral - the stupidity is your domain - a reef is a single organism consisting of many types of corals - I've never heard so much tripe!

Edited January 19, 2011 by Deeral

[ourmanflint]

"acoral - the stupidity is your domain - a reef is a single organism consisting of many types of corals - I've never heard so much tripe!

Sorry fella, I can't help that you know very little of coral morphology and biology, but are happy to repeat all the claptrap you've been spoon fed.

A reef is an "ecosystem" not an organism, if you don't know even that difference then you'd better go back to bed and have a deep think.

Edited January 19, 2011 by ourmanflint

[Macmundi]

This is a natural activity. It is caused by humans. If Humans did not cause it, it will eventually occur anyway. We just sped the process up. We just made the planet get old quicker. What we have to do now is to find out where the cold water is moving to. From there we promote the growth and recovery of all the corals and marine life before the endangered becomes extinct. Key is to go with the flow. If we restrict access to the bleached zone, and if the temperature remains high, over a hundred years, it will never grow back anyway. Monitoring remains a must, but not limited to exploring and promoting the next favorable location.

[siamdivers]

This is a natural activity. It is caused by humans. If Humans did not cause it, it will eventually occur anyway. We just sped the process up. We just made the planet get old quicker. What we have to do now is to find out where the cold water is moving to. From there we promote the growth and recovery of all the corals and marine life before the endangered becomes extinct. Key is to go with the flow. If we restrict access to the bleached zone, and if the temperature remains high, over a hundred years, it will never grow back anyway. Monitoring remains a must, but not limited to exploring and promoting the next favorable location.

Well put, nicely done. Thanks.