DMCR report an abundance of healthy sealife in Krabi

Officers from the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (DMCR), Lower Andaman Sea were pleased to report the abundance of healthy sealife after they performed an aerial survey over Krabi last week. Between March 1 to March 5, 22 dugongs and 74 sea turtles were discovered.

Yesterday, the Director of the DMCR, Lower Andaman Sea, Santi Ninlawat, reported that he and his volunteer pilot Eduardo Angelo used a fixed-wing aircraft and drone to survey several islands in Krabi such as Koh Poo, Koh Sriborya, and the archipelago in the Nuer Khlong district of Krabi last week.

They discovered 74 sea turtles and 22 dugongs, which included a big group of dugongs and three pairs of dugong mothers and their calves. The dugongs swam over the sea glass proving that they had enough food, and a number of dugong calves revealed that the environment was favourable for breeding. From the visual observation, all the sea animals appeared healthy.

Santi added that the DMCR plans to use this discovery to calculate the actual population of these rare marine animals in Krabi and enhance preservation methods.

DailyNews reported that tourists spotted dolphins and whale sharks in Krabi several times. These sightings indicate that Krabi marine ecosystem was thriving.

According to a report by the Hat Nappharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park, the national park earned over 16 million baht from 17,378 Thai and foreign tourists who visited attractions in the national park over the latest long weekend from March 4 to March 6.

The most popular attractions during the weekend were Koh Phi Phi, Koh Mai Phai, Koh Poda, Maya Bay, and the separated sea or Thale Waek in Ao Nang.

The DMCR is a government agency in Thailand that is responsible for the conservation and management of the country’s marine and coastal resources. The Lower Andaman Sea is an area in the southwestern part of Thailand that includes the Andaman Sea and the coastlines of several provinces, including Phuket, Krabi, and Trang.

The DMCR’s Research Centre in the Lower Andaman Sea conducts research and monitoring activities aimed at understanding the region’s marine and coastal ecosystems and identifying ways to protect and conserve them. This includes studying the biology and ecology of marine organisms, as well as monitoring water quality, coastal erosion, and other environmental factors that can impact the ecosystem’s health.

In addition to its research and monitoring activities, the DMCR’s Research Centre also works to raise awareness about the importance of marine and coastal conservation and to engage with local communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders to develop and implement strategies for sustainable management of the region’s resources.