Oil spills threaten Koh Phangan beaches

webfact · May 25, 2017

Oil spills threaten Koh Phangan beaches

Oil spills, believed to be from foreign fishing boats, have tainted the beaches and mangrove shores of Koh Pha-ngan in Surat Thani province forcing local authorities to investigate and seek assistance from relevant government agencies to help clean it.

The oil spills tainted a 500 metre long section of the beach and mangrove shore at Hin Kong Moo 6 in Ban Hin Kong of Tambon Koh Phangan.

According to Phet Phangan mayor Pittaya Inkong, he believed the oil spills were released from foreign fishing boats which came to fish in the areas.

The released oil spills were later blown to shores by winds, he said.

He said the oil tainted beach and mangrove shore are recreational areas where tourists always like to visit and watching sunset.

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/oil-spills-threaten-koh-phangan-beaches/

Samui Bodoh · May 25, 2017

Those pesky foreigners again....

Is there no end to their crimes?

Edited May 25, 2017 by Samui Bodoh

fish monger · May 25, 2017

The hell with caring for the environment or even any mention of it...! Just be concerned with those tourist dollars...! Same story every time.

FredNL · May 25, 2017

With winds from the south-west for the last 3 weeks...

I doubt it came from a foreign vessel !!!

carmine · May 26, 2017

"Foreign fisherman" How is it down to foreign fisherman? I'm completely confused by this.

geriatrickid · May 26, 2017

Technically correct. The Burmese/Myanmar quasi slaves who work on fishing vessels are indeed foreigners.

carmine · May 26, 2017

21 minutes ago, geriatrickid said:

Technically correct. The Burmese/Myanmar quasi slaves who work on fishing vessels are indeed foreigners.

Oh yes of course......so its the blame game again. Rather than sort out problems of ones own making lets blame someone else.....

samuijimmy · May 26, 2017

Marine police not doing their job? There are two Vietnamese boats, sitting off Nathon, Samui, which were caught fishing in Thai waters... just abandoned now .. sitting to rot. Been there a year or perhaps two now.

longtom · May 26, 2017

16 hours ago, fish monger said:

The hell with caring for the environment or even any mention of it...! Just be concerned with those tourist dollars...! Same story every time.

If you had read the original article ...

Quote

Moreover it is also the nursery ground for marine life, particularly “Hoi Klom” or round shells which is a delicious and favourite dish for locals and tourists.

He said a meeting would be called to investigate and to seek help from other relevant state agencies to resolve the problems which is now threatening the environment.

Samui Bodoh · May 26, 2017

Yes, I am tired of always reading about "foreign" causes to problems (see my post above).

But, if I may speculate a bit... perhaps there is a reason. The story notes that the Mayor will " investigate and seek assistance from relevant government agencies to help clean it." I wonder if this is a matter of either convenience or law. If the spill and associated damage can be shown/designated to be from a foreign cause, then the Mayor might be eligible to apply for government funds for a clean up. If it is shown that the spill was caused by Thai interests (for want of a better way to put it), then it might have to be litigated through the courts (which is a long and fraught process) in order to get the funds for a clean up..

Perhaps the blaming of foreigners in this case is a convenience to get funds?

Food for thought...

Edited May 26, 2017 by Samui Bodoh

samuijimmy · May 26, 2017

I was in this area of KP on Monday, I usually stop as it is usually quite nice there, but the tides are extremely low at this time of year...so I did not bother... but I took these photos just up the road..

But it does make one wonder,.....