EXCLUSIVE ONLINE REPORT

Restoring Coral Reefs in Thailand

Kieron McLintock



Thailand’s coral reefs support 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of plants and animals — coral reefs are home to one in four marine species. Reefs form sensitive ecosystems, healthy within a small temperature band and a small ph band. Easily destroyed by silting and dredging, they also provide vital protection for shorelines against erosion, storm and wave damage. (The tsunami that occurred several years ago would have been a lot worse, had it not been for the coral reefs surrounding Thailand).

Some of the world’s most diverse coral reefs are found within a 12,000 km block, including a 200km stretch of the Andaman Coast on the west coast of Thailand. After the tsunami, a lot of research was done into its effects on these reef ecosystems. Initial assessment by local dive operators near Phuket, and within the Surin and Similan archipelagos, showed that out of 70 sites, 13 had suffered heavy damage. Experts now believe that overall damage caused by the tsunami was actually quite small — many of the Andaman reefs were already significantly damaged, before December 26th.

Pollution, global warming, habitat destruction, and overfishing — these insidious dangers are the real issues.

This article was adapted from a presentation made at an international conference held in Kyoto in June 2010 by the British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC Pan-Pacific, heaquartered in Osaka).

To read entire article, download as PDF file (123KB)

Kieron McClintock is BSAC Thailand's chairman and general manager, an Advanced Instructor and Technical Instructor. He previously worked as salvage diver, and dive center owner in the Barbados; has extensive knowledge and experience working in the recreational diving industry.

return to Biodiversity contents