Chutima Sidasathian Phuketwan 26 Nov 10;
MARINE experts have reacted with alarm to news that the coral reefs off Phuket and the Andaman have been severely damaged by coral bleaching. One expert at the Phuket Marine Biology Centre has called for coordinated action to save the region's star tourism attraction.
Dr Nalinee Thongtham told Phuketwan: "We as experts can say what the problems are but we have no power to determine the future of the coral reefs that bring so many visitors to the region.
"The authorities mus act now. It can take eight or 10 years to restore the coral reefs, and the process must be properly managed. Once the reefs die off beyond a certain point, it will not be easy to bring them to life again."
Phuket dive company consultant Guy "Charlie" Lidureau raised the alarm this week when he reported: "I have just come back from five diving days at the Similans, Bon Tachai and Richelieu Rock. All coral reefs between the surface and 20 meters in depth are 60 percent to 80 percent dead, and at some dive spots 100 percent dead."
An extended hot high season at prolonged high sea temperatures caused the damage when Phuket's usual monsoon rains did not bring relief early enough.
Now experts are concerned to aid the recovery by environmental controls over the reefs and the diving industry - or face the end for Phuket's most vulnerable natural attraction.
Dr Nalinee said: "The reefs are still beautiful and first-time divers in the region will still find them delightful. But regular divers can see the difference. Once the coral dies off beyond a certain point, it will not be easy to bring them back."
Dr Nalinee said the need for the diving industry to make money was understood but the business has been operating without regulation, much to the concern of Mr Lidureau and other veteran Phuket operators.
"There is a vital need to fix and control what activities can be done in which areas," Dr Nalinee said. "Regulations have to be introduced to control the number of divers, or the reefs will not survive this natural disaster, and the man-made disaster of overuse."
Mr Lidureau said: "What is happening this year in the Andaman Sea is must worse that the 2004 tsunami. Where coral reefs are completely dead, it will take at least 5-10 years to recover.
"The only places left to dive will be in deeper water below 20 meters and dive sites with large boulders as fishermen, storms and the El Nino bleaching phenomenon were not able to remove them.
"The Similans and Surin Island have only been open for three weeks so only a few people knew the truth."
Mr Lidureau said the devastated reefs in Thailand and lack of fish will push dive tour operators and divers around the world to find alternative liveaboard dive destinations in other oceans for the coming years.
"Expect fewer reservations and more cancellations," he said.
Mr Lidureau, general manager of Seafarer Divers in Chalong, is an advocate of tighter environmental enforcement and restrictions on the number of day-trip and liveaboard divers, as well as a limit to the number of dive operators.
