Spectacular Coral Reef Off Phang-nga Coast Discovered

[LaoPo]

Source: WNF (Dutch branch*) of the WORLD WILDLIFE FUND. Feb. 21 - 2006.

Free sript/translation:

According to WWF specialists, WWF-divers have discovered (they were told by Thai fishermen) and 'mapped' a spectacular and very large CORAL REEF off the coast of Phang-Nga Province, to be reached from Khao Lak.

The area was not registered untill now by the Thai Authorities or elsewhere.

The area is at least some 270 Hectares.

More than 30 different species of Coral have been discovered and 112 different species of Coral Fish, belonging to 56 different 'families'.

*The Netherlands is sponsoring, with a so called "Green Coast Project', Thailand to help and restore Coral Reefs, damaged due to the Tsunami.

Last week, 20 divers collected tons of garbage from the ocean-floor after which they have put back special large Giant Clams (doopvont-shells).

Attachment thanks to Wikipedia.

LaoPo

[khall64au]

Apparently... according to a few media reports! Will try to check it out.....

[Jai Dee]

Coral reef found off coast of Phang Nga

A new coral reef discovered in Phang Nga’s Tai Muang area covers some four square kilometres and accounts for about 5 per cent of all the coral areas in the Andaman Sea.

Lying around five kilometres offshore are more than 30 genera of hard corals providing home to 12 species of fish from 56 families, said Songpol Tippayawong, head of WWF Thailand’s Marine and Coastal Conservation Unit, which discovered the coral site.

“The fish living there include such rare species as the parrot fish Chlorurus rakaura, which was first discovered in Sri Lanka and has never before been seen in Thai waters. The reef also has a species of the sweetlips fish, the Plectorhincus macrospilus, which was previously known only from the Similan Islands,” he explained.

The Thai chapter of the leading international environmental group first heard about the coral reef from local fishermen, Songpol said.

“We discovered [the new reef] after talking with local fishermen while we were conducting a survey for our Green Coast project,” he said, referring to the group’s tsunami recovery project for indigenous marine life and local fishing communities.

“The discovery helps us understand why sea turtles in the Andaman Sea use the Thai Muang area as their major nest site: the reef is a source of food for turtles and their offspring,” Songpol said.

Nearby Had Tai Muang is known as the only beach in Thailand where sea turtles living in the Andaman Sea lay their eggs. As many as four species of sea turtle lay their eggs on a 14km long stretch of the beach.

Yet the discovery of the new coral reef poses conservation challenges, Songpol said. It is feared it will draw hordes of tour operators peddling visits to the untouched reef to scuba-diving tourists. As a result, the WWF is keeping the precise location of the newly discovered site a secret for the time being.

“The reef needs special protection,” he said. “Marine life there is in a very healthy condition having suffered only limited interference from humans.”

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) is in the process of including the site on its Andaman coral reefs map, highlighting it as protected area under the National Marine Park Act, Songpol added.

A source in Phang Nga said that although locals endorsed the idea of keeping the reef free from interference, they were concerned the act’s strict regulations would prohibit locals from gaining access to their traditional fishing sites.

“We should conserve the coral reef, but local villagers who have been earning a living [from fishing] in the area should be allowed to continue their way of life,” the source said. “If tourism activities like diving will be allowed at the site, local villagers should also be allowed to benefit [from tourism].”

Songpol agreed. He said the WWF Thailand was working closely with DMCR officials to set up a long-term plan to preserve the area.

Source: The Nation - Thu, February 23, 2006

[NBT TV Phuket]

To see mini-video, go to http://www.thaisnews.com/news_detail.php?newsid=163027

for Special Report for Andaman News TV11 + Radio Thailand FM90.5 Phuket City, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces, 8.30am Tuesday 21 February 2006 & www.Thaisnews.com

This is a previously unknown virgin coral reef just discovered by the World Wildlife Fund or WWF of Thailand. The new information was announced during a press briefing carried out by WWF and Wetlands International at the Royal Phuket City Hotel yesterday. It also revealed some rare fish in the Andaman Sea in Phang Nga province, and they have given us here at channel 11 the first public footage of this exciting discovery.

They claim this reef was previously unknown by authorities, including the Department of Marine Coastal Resources, and was only discovered this January last month. Initial rapid surveys have identified over 270 hectares of previously unknown relatively healthy reefs with over 30 general kinds of coral, and at least 112 species of fish from 56 families, including a new record – the parrot fish Chlorurus rakaura first discovered in Sri Lanka and never seen in Thailand until now.

Khun Songpol Tippaywong, Head of Marine & Coastal Resources Unit for the WWF, told us at the press conference that such a finding is very rare and could be up to 5-10% of reefs found before:

The Department of Marine Coastal Resources have just verified it is new and not yet listed:

He said no dive companies have yet accessed this site, but they could easily reach it from Khao Lak, and scuba divers could dive down the 6-8 metres to find it, just like the fishermen.

He was therefore reluctant to reveal its exact location.

He hopes the authorities with their cooperation will be able to protect the site.

IF managed properly the site could become a prominent local dive site while also contributing income to the community. They plan more surveys and research, restoration of degraded sites, placing of buoys, and establishing dive fees to support community based conservation.

Just last Sunday 19th February, with support from the Royal Thai Navy, around 20 divers assisted in the removal of debris from the reef and released 100 giant clams.

The WWF believe there may be even more areas like this awaiting discovery, and with grateful financial support of the Wetland’s Green Coast project and the United Nations Environment Programme or UNEP, they should receive our support and respect in bringing this exciting discovery to the public’s notice to help protect it for future generations to come.

[sabaijai]

As a result, the WWF is keeping the precise location of the newly discovered site a secret for the time being.

With all the divers in that area, I doubt they can keep it secret. Also if the WWF found out about it from local fishermen, so can other interested parties. All the more reason to declare legal protection as soon as possible.

[donna]

I hate to appear to be bursting peoples bubbles here, but I need to put my two cents worth in. Is this a ploy just to get people back to Khao Lak after the Tsunami? I certainly agree that this discovery is great and to create another marine park in Thailand can only be seen as a good thing.

But this reef must have been known for many years by local people, and folks who have dive shops in the area. To suddenly announce that it is a recent discovery sounds a bit suss to me.

I am a diver and would love to dive here. However, I fear it will soon be heavily inundated by other divers and I like the quietness of the 'undiscovered' sites that are right in my backyard!

Sssshhhhh

[britmaveric]

Donna - I agree bit odd that no one knew about this before. I find that hard to believe - def smth fishy about this discovery.

[English Noodles]

Will i be allowed to spearfish (free dive only) there then?