Coral in Thai waters affected by rise in temperature
Global warming is also affecting coral in Thai waters. For example, the coral in the sea at Koh Talu and Koh Leum in Prachuap Khiri Khan has been affected. This causes the coral to lose its color, indicating that the water temperature is rising. Five percent of the coral reef has been affected.
A coral reef is a shoal in the sea that is built up by coral polyps. These are small animals that live in clear and warm water. They deposit lime, which over time can form extensive coral reefs (banks).
Biologist Nalinee of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources expects the water temperature to rise above 30 degrees. As a result, more and more coral will be affected. Nalinee attributes the temperature rise to El Niño and the warm summer period, but global warming also plays a role.
The discoloration of the coral has been going on for a while, with 2010 as the lowest point. As a result, 66,9 percent of the coral reefs were lost in the northern Andaman Sea and 39 percent in the southern part. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources is making an inventory and can say more about the situation at the end of this month. The places with reefs may be closed to divers to prevent further loss.
Source: Bangkok Post
Like everything in life, nothing stays the same. Also the fate of the coral. Not only in Thai waters, just look at the Great Barrier Reef on the east coast of Australia. So for the real enthusiast be there on time and make another dive where possible and enjoy it, because it won't get any better if these messages are correct.
The story above is correct. But not completely.
Coral degradation – bleaching – is indeed related to the warming of the water.
It is not correct that diving is closed to counteract this effect. There is no connection at all. From my own experience (Padi diving instructor) I can tell that the organizations I have worked with in recent years are very responsible with the diving environment.
This false takeover of the story also happened on a well-known dive site in the Netherlands.
If diving spots are closed by the Thai government, it is because measuring equipment is installed by the same government to measure this rise in temperature.
And not because the coral is being dived to pieces.
Dive sites and whether reefs close to divers? Whether the bleaching of the corals is due to diving activities. Of course reefs are damaged by divers no matter how careful one is, but coral bleaching is caused by global warming. Divers make an important financial contribution enabling more research into this problem.
Projects have been successfully started in various places to breed coral species that are more resistant to warming waters. These corals are then released onto artificial reefs and areas where the coral has been degraded.
Kind regards, Peter.
The greatest damage to coral is caused by man, yes, but mainly by the pollution and misery we cause and not a few dives. The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is also very affected by global warming. And that is really a serious problem since the Great Barrier Reef is seen as the coral nursery of the whole world. So this is not just a Thai problem but a world problem caused by man and his mismanagement of nature and earth (blaming natural phenomenon El nino for everything is very easy)