Krabi:- The Hat Noppharat Thara - Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park has now stepped up its enforcement of regulations that bar tourist activities from damaging marine resources.

“We will arrange regular patrols to keep watch on tourists. It’s for their safety as well as for environmental protection,” the park’s chief Chaiyatat Boonphuphantanti says.

He is speaking in response to reports that some tourist boats carelessly hit coral reefs with their anchors and many tour operators fail to prevent their customers from collecting shells as souvenirs.

Chaiyatat says the regular patrols will also serve to prevent any tour operator from entering areas affected by coral bleaching.

“We have banned their access to these areas because the sea there will need time to recover from the bleaching,” he says. At present, the once-popular destinations like Pai Island have been off-limits to divers.

Located in the southern province of Krabi, this national park contains many attractions including a shell cemetery and the world-famous Phi Phi Island.

In a related development, a scuba-diving instructor working in Krabi has lately captured a humpback with his camera and shared the picture on social media.

The picture has become big news, as the humpback is very big. It is estimated that the whale in the picture must have been over nine meters long and weighed more than one ton.

Saneh Yamae, the man who captured the breathtaking picture, says he caught sight of the giant mammal during his work trip.

“All tourists on the same boat are excited,” he says. Saneh has taught diving to interested tourists.

put up a sign in Chinese !

No Chinese !!

Too little too late. The next victims are the Mergui islands off Burma. Only a matter of time.

Environmental responsibility. Wassat?