Coastal Development Destroying Reefs Off Phuket

[webfact]

Coastal development destroying reefs off Phuket

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

An aerial photograph taken recently by the Phuket Marine Biological Centre shows the largescale property development on Cape Panwa. / Courtesy of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre

PHUKET: -- Massive land development in Phuket province will be strictly controlled by environmental regulations after findings that large amounts of sediment caused by construction has destroyed a large area of coral reefs and marine ecosystems.

Over 250 square kilometres of coral reef surrounding Phuket's Tang Khen Beach had been covered by a massive amount of sediment from land development, according to a study by Phuket Marine Biological Centre.

It said that previously over 250 rai of coral reef at the end of Cape Panwa's Ao Tang Khen was alive. However, coral reefs, particularly staghorn corals, had been totally destroyed. It was now covered by a large amount of sediment - from the seaport and building of three hotels in the area.

There has been massive land development in coastal areas of Phuket over the past five years. Over 100 areas on the coast and mountains, especially western beach areas such as Patong, Ka Ta, Karon and Kamala, were opened and dredged to build resorts.

The large number of building and land projects would hit marine resources, particularly coral reefs around Phuket province, which is a top destination for tourists around the world.

Niphon Pongsuwan, a coral expert who conducted the study, said he was worried the removal of land surfaces in mountainous and coastal areas would accelerate the amount of sediment flowing into the sea, harming reefs and aquatic animals and plants.

His team is now monitoring the changing of coral reefs and marine ecosystems, especially "at risk" areas such as Patong, the north of Ka Ta, the eastern part of Phuket, and Koh Rad. An evaluation will be conducted every six months. Preliminary investigation results have found that staghorn coral can no longer live there due to the changing marine ecosystem.

Boonchop Sutthamanaswong, directorgeneral of the Marine and Coastal Resources Department, said he had had many complaints about land development and building of resorts in coastal areas like Laem Singh beach in Phuket. The construction had released sediment, including sand and cement, into the sea and affected coral reefs and seagrass.

"Many resorts and hotels are now being built in the mountains near coastal areas reserved for the tourist industry. These land development projects are affecting the marine ecosystem. We could not see the impact in the shortterm but in the longterm, these marine resources will be totally destroyed," he said.

To prevent further damage to marine resources, Boonchop said his agency would talk with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning about stricter controls under the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for land development near coastal areas. He will also ask local authorities to follow regulations under environmental protection announcements to reduce the impact from land projects on the marine ecosystem.

-- The Nation 2012-03-19

[Soupdragon]

It said that previously over 250 rai of coral reef at the end of Cape Panwa's Ao Tang Khen was alive. However, coral reefs, particularly staghorn corals, had been totally destroyed.

To prevent further damage to marine resources, Boonchop said his agency would talk with the Office of Natural Resources and Environmental Policy and Planning about stricter controls under the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for land development near coastal areas.

It's dead you can't damage it anymore.

I don't suppose all the money paid for environmental studies will be returned as they clearly didn't work very hard for it.

[KarenBravo]

I thought all the reefs on the eastern side were destroyed years ago by silt created from tin-dredging.

[David48]

It's dead you can't damage it anymore.

With the Great Barrier Reef near my door step, we do a lot of studies to similar subjects and reefs, given the opportunity can re-establish themselves.

No ... you can bring back the dead, but the reef formed in the first place due to optimal conditions and can again flourish.

Edited March 19, 2012 by David48

[Soupdragon]

It's dead you can't damage it anymore.

With the Great Barrier Reef near my door step, we do a lot of studies to similar subjects and reefs, given the opportunity can re-establish themselves.

No ... you can bring back the dead, but the reef formed in the first place due to optimal conditions and can again flourish.

What you say is true though comparing Australia to Thailand in terms of monitoring and control is maybe not a good thing.

Staghorn the fastest growing coral in the region grows at approx 5cm a year so for the reef to re-establish, even if given the right conditions, is at least a decade away.

[stevenl]

A reef as a whole can recover, but the individual corals are and will remain dead.

Edited March 19, 2012 by stevenl

[CosmicSurfer]

Sum Nam Nah....

Destroying the very attractions that brings the Tourists that fill the Hotels they built... Idiots!

CS

[Gerryasia]

Welcome to Pattaya, Redux........