Koh Samet: Corals, marine life destroyed in oil-spill areas

[webfact]

Corals, marine life destroyed in oil-spill areas
Janjira Pongrai
Pongphon Sarnsamak
The Nation



About 20% have died in tainted areas: survey

BANGKOK: -- The state marine-watch agency has found that some coral reefs in the oil-slick-affected Ao Phrao area of Koh Samet have been killed off by bleaching, and some marine life had been reduced by up to 20 per cent.

The team's report was released by the Marine and Coastal Resources Depart-ment director-general Noppon Srisuk

When the oil slick hit Ao Phrao beach on the western side of the island, the agency sent a team to survey the coral reefs in 11 spots surrounding Koh Samet in Rayong province.

The team dived into the sea to depths of up to four metres to study damage at Noi Na, Laem Ya, Ao Lung Dam, Ao Kew Nha Nok, Ao Phai, Ao Look Yon, Koh Kudee, Koh Kham - Kruai, Koh Pla Teen, and the northern area of Ao Phrao.

Preliminary results showed that most of the intertidal zone had been tainted by the oil slick. The survey also revealed that about 10 to 20 per cent of marine life in Ao Phrao, especially stone crabs, snails, and oysters, had died.

The survey team collected samples of coral tissue to find the cause of death and estimate the percentage and scale of coral bleaching. The department was joined by marine experts from various educational institutes to conduct the survey and study the short, middle and long-term impact of the oil spill on the coral reefs. This team will take a year to survey the coral reef surrounding the affected island.

However, Noppon insisted no orders had been issued to close Ao Phrao for tourism activities.

Meanwhile, marine biologist Thon Thamrongnawasawat of Kasetsart University's Faculty of Fisheries, said he had also sent a team to survey changes to the coral reef in Ao Phrao last week.

The preliminary result of a parallel survey found that about 20 massive corals, located two metres undersea in the southern area of Ao Phrao, were bleached. Thon assumed this bleaching was caused by the oil slick.

However, he said his team needed to collect samples of coral tissue for in-depth analysis to confirm the real cause.

"At least we know where it should be closely monitored to determine further impacts of oil spills on coral reefs in this area," he said.

Sumet Saithong, chief of the Khao Laem Ya-Mu Koh Samet National Park, said he could not say right now whether coral reefs surrounding the island and affected area were dead. During the past few years, coral reefs surrounding the island had been bleached already before the oil slick affected the island.


-- The Nation 2013-08-08

[tomyummer]

See? Not enough hair was donated. Shame on everyone.

[noitom]

This Thai news and reports of the divers is certainly not manipulated. After all this is Thai research, and totally accurate.

[MaxLee]

Where does PTT fit into this picture??? "The surface only is clean, yippiiiieeeee!!!!!!! Case closed, you can all swim and eat seafood all you want... . And something terrible happens below the surface,... not our problem, bye bye

[NongKhaiKid]

This Thai news and reports of the divers is certainly not manipulated. After all this is Thai research, and totally accurate.

Let's hope more of the truth continues to come out but no indication the area should be closed surely needed as a precaution

[Bluespunk]

"During the past few years, coral reefs surrounding the island had been bleached already before the oil slick affected the island."

How?

[AleG]

If only the press would take a tenth of the time and effort spent on this oil spill to expose the systematic and widespread destruction of the Thai seas by the fish industry. Every day, all over the country and even within "protected" areas boats are squeezing the very last of the fishing stocks and destroying the sea bottom by trawling.

The oil spill was bad, but it touched a tiny little bit of Thailand's marine area, but there's a much bigger and daily problem that goes virtually unreported.

[AleG]

"During the past few years, coral reefs surrounding the island had been bleached already before the oil slick affected the island."

How?

High water temperatures, 3 or 4 years ago there was a big bleaching event. If you'd saw the before and after of the reefs in say, Koh Tachai, you'd be amazed.

Reefs are already pushed to the brink here, when bleaching happens they don't have the strength to recover.

[jamhar]

"During the past few years, coral reefs surrounding the island had been bleached already before the oil slick affected the island."

How?

"some of it was already dead"

is NOT a valid excuse.

[nakhonandy]

"During the past few years, coral reefs surrounding the island had been bleached already before the oil slick affected the island."

How?

"some of it was already dead"

is NOT a valid excuse.

Some of it probably was, true. I see this regularly around the islands off Pattaya where tourists are allowed. Effluence from hotels etc.

The bleach of the corals in this case is more likely due to the chemicals used to break up the oil together with the oil itself.

As rightly stated this is not an excuse.

[webfact]

Oil spill damage not as great as feared, say Phuket Marine Biologists
Phuket Gazette


Coral near Koh Samet Photo: The Nation

PHUKET: -- The environmental damage to Koh Samet is not as great as initially feared, according to five Phuket-based marine biologists who have just returned from a fact-finding mission to the oil-spill stricken island.

The Phuket group’s findings were similar to those reported by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources.

“We did not find any remains or evidence of endangered species being washed ashore, even a week after the oil spill,” said Phuket Marine Biological Center (PMBC) Director Ukkrit Satapoomin.

“This is despite the fact that villagers have reported seeing dolphins and turtles washed up on the beach,” he said.

Coral life has not suffered as greatly as feared either.

“The corals in most of the areas still appear in normal condition, with only some kinds of corals in a few areas found affected,” he said.

The Phuket Marine Biologists may return to Koh Samet for follow-up, Director Ukkrit said.

The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources website can be found here.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Oil-spill-damage-not-as-great-as-feared-say-Phuket-Marine-Biologists-21894.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-08

[MaxLee]

Oil spill damage not as great as feared, say Phuket Marine Biologists talk crap

Don't trust anyone,... I won't buy that crap statement at all, the environmental damage BELOW the surface must be unimaginable...

Edited August 8, 2013 by MaxLee

[Amras]

"The preliminary result of a parallel survey found that about 20 massive corals, located two metres undersea in the southern area of Ao Phrao, were bleached. Thon assumed this bleaching was caused by the oil slick.

However, he said his team needed to collect samples of coral tissue for in-depth analysis to confirm the real cause."

Yep...need to do more research. Because before and after means, that the event in between is probably not the cause (or a major contributor). Go figure.

[Thai at Heart]

"The preliminary result of a parallel survey found that about 20 massive corals, located two metres undersea in the southern area of Ao Phrao, were bleached. Thon assumed this bleaching was caused by the oil slick.

However, he said his team needed to collect samples of coral tissue for in-depth analysis to confirm the real cause."

Yep...need to do more research. Because before and after means, that the event in between is probably not the cause (or a major contributor). Go figure.

Better do some more research, because if you blame PTT, that is never going to get paid. But of course, if PTT didn't damage it, how come it is damaged?

At the end of it, does anyone think Samet has a water treatment facility, waste disposal facilities? It's a national park, half the businesses shouldn't even be there. Everyone is reaping the harvest of their duplicity.

[Grusa]

Here is an aerial photo of surface oil, taken about 10 km South East of Koh Samet, on Tuesday, near one of the small island off Cape Mae Pim. There are similar slicks all the way to Trat, and the port at Phe is very oily, but that may just be fuel spillage. Some of the beaches have large black oil patches, and there are a few small teams to be seen - clearing oil or digging for shellfish, I can't tell!

Edited August 8, 2013 by Grusa