Famous Phang Nga dive site found devastated

[webfact 35,792]

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

[tracker1 3,959]

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 !

[Sphere 3,212]

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"? 

[hanssna 184]

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,

[yellowboat 10,755]

If only the Thai Navy had submarines.   No need for patrol boats which could be locally built and maintained. 

[dick dasterdly 8,720]

Very sad to hear.  Richelieu Rock used to be a great dive site .

[lemonjelly 5,575]

Local thai fishermen... they rarely give a f### about nature and environment.

[stevenl 14,301]

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.

[elgordo38 9,525]

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

[elgordo38 9,525]

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. 

[BusyB 67]

Shocked.

 

Really.

 

Stunned.

 

Speechless.

[stevenl 14,301]

According to a post on scubaboard, a diving forum, this news is not true.

 

sent using Tapatalk

 

 

 

 

[stevenl 14,301]

Now also in the Thailand News section statements this news is not true.

sent using Tapatalk

[ThaiWai 1,212]

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

[Rimmer 6,720]

A post has been edited and a flame has been removed:

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