webfact Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 Famous Phang Nga dive site found devastated By Pratch Rujivanarom The Nation BANGKOK: -- Richelieu Rock, a coral reef in Mu Koh Surin National Park that’s a world-famous location for scuba diving, has been destroyed, possibly by fishermen illegally using explosives. There was an outpouring of concern on social media on Friday (April 7) after a video taken underwater at the site was widely shared. It showed fish lying dead on the seafloor and shards of rocks and cracked coral. The reef, previously colourful and teeming with marine life, had been hailed as one of the best diving sites in the world. Sakanan Plathong, a marine biologist at Prince of Songkla University, said a diving team from the Marine National Park Operation Centre examined the damage at Richelieu Rock on Friday. The video posted online had been shot by a diver at the scene two days earlier, he said. “We have to conduct a proper survey before we can identify the cause of the damage,” Sakanan said, “but from what I’ve seen, it’s very likely the reef was damaged by blasting. “The fish died as a result of an underwater explosion, but the coral should survive as long as it hasn’t taken a direct hit.” While the site in Phang Nga appears to be in terrible shape right now, he said, there is still a chance that the coral will recover, since nature often “heals itself”. Thon Thamrongnawasawat, another prominent marine biologist, noted in a Facebook post that the use of explosives and other destructive techniques to fish violates both fisheries and national park laws. He urged officials at Mu Koh Surin Park to urgently investigate the possibility that explosives are being used for fishing in the area, saying it represents a grave threat to marine resources, the tourism industry and national security. Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/news/national/30311594 -- © Copyright The Nation 2017-04-07 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracker1 Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 World famous ! must have been kept a secret and don't worry about the coral it has a way of repairing itself might take a while as long as Tourism doesn't take a hit ! as for National Security those submarines will do more damage running aground on a few reefs ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sphere Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 1 hour ago, webfact said: ...result of an underwater explosion... Has it been linked to the 2007, 2010 blasts in Bangkok yet? Or, did this one go "ka-boom" instead of just "boom"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hanssna Posted April 7, 2017 Share Posted April 7, 2017 On 4/7/2017 at 2:59 PM, tracker1 said: World famous ! must have been kept a secret and don't worry about the coral it has a way of repairing itself might take a while as long as Tourism doesn't take a hit ! as for National Security those submarines will do more damage running aground on a few reefs ! Richelieu Rock has been the best Thai dive site since diving has been on the map here altogether. And the only site left in Thailand that hasn't been too much affected by the coral bleaching in 2010 and can still qualify as one of the top spots in the world. The news of this dive site being destroyed by dynamite blast fishing is just as shocking as the blasts, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 If only the Thai Navy had submarines. No need for patrol boats which could be locally built and maintained. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick dasterdly Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Very sad to hear. Richelieu Rock used to be a great dive site . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonjelly Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Local thai fishermen... they rarely give a f### about nature and environment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 I was there on the 4th, the dives were really good. This must have happened in the night of the 4th if I follow the timeline correctly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 23 hours ago, tracker1 said: World famous ! must have been kept a secret and don't worry about the coral it has a way of repairing itself might take a while as long as Tourism doesn't take a hit ! as for National Security those submarines will do more damage running aground on a few reefs ! Hmmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elgordo38 Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Must be the heat today the natives are getting in war dance mode again. Happens from time to time. Lets pray for rain to cool things down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BusyB Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Shocked. Really. Stunned. Speechless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 According to a post on scubaboard, a diving forum, this news is not true. sent using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted April 8, 2017 Share Posted April 8, 2017 Now also in the Thailand News section statements this news is not true.sent using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThaiWai Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 On 4/8/2017 at 10:10 AM, yellowboat said: If only the Thai Navy had submarines. No need for patrol boats which could be locally built and maintained. Creates another issue. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3687891/Portuguese-submarine-caught-net-French-fishing-boat-English-coast.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rimmer Posted April 9, 2017 Share Posted April 9, 2017 A post has been edited and a flame has been removed: 7) You will respect fellow members and post in a civil manner. No personal attacks, hateful or insulting towards other members, (flaming) Stalking of members on either the forum or via PM will not be allowed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dick dasterdly Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 On 4/8/2017 at 10:50 PM, stevenl said: Now also in the Thailand News section statements this news is not true. sent using Tapatalk Odd that someone should make this up and post 'photos from another area. Hopefully we'll find out the truth one way or another fairly soon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevenl Posted April 10, 2017 Share Posted April 10, 2017 Odd that someone should make this up and post 'photos from another area. Hopefully we'll find out the truth one way or another fairly soon.If the report were correct i would have heard. sent using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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