Phuket

Divers retrieve 300m net from coral reef

Published

16 years ago

15-05-2004

PHANG NGA BAY: Phuket Marine Biology Center officers and volunteers from local dive companies yesterday worked together to retrieve a 300-meter-long fishing net that had become entangled on coral just off Koh Hang. The net was discovered by a PMBC officer on a regular dive to inspect the condition of the coral. A length of about 10 meters was found entangled with the reef. Niphon Phongsuwan, a marine biologist with the Phuket Marine and Coastal Resources Department, told the Gazette that the net was probably thrown overboard by fisherman, causing damage to coral and endangering sea life in the area. The routine dive to inspect the coral was part of a project to preserve coral and marine life. “Reefs also get damaged by some guides who are afraid to warn people not to stand on the coral because they are afraid of losing customers,” said K. Niphon. But he said that most damage to coral is from natural processes. “Other living things such as seaweed take over coral areas, which makes it difficult to restore the coral,” he said. However, he added that it was easier to restore coral that had suffered natural damage than coral damaged by people. “The Phi Phi islands have shallow water, where the coral is easily damaged by tourists’ feet,” K. Niphon said. Another factor, he explained, was the quality of the sea water. “It takes five to 10 years to restore areas like this that have good water, but 20-30 years to restore areas in water that is not so clean,” he said.

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News Categories:Phuket

Phuket

Dozens of Burmese, Thai workers demand back pay, benefits in Phuket

Published

2 days ago

August 5, 2020

Jack Burton

PHOTOS: The Phuket News

An estimated 100 Burmese and Thai workers went to Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday to report their employer for not paying them for 3 months, and to try and get some clarity if they still have jobs. They filed their complaint with the ombudsman’s office and the Labour Protection Social Security Office. 27 year old Burmese national Min Thu Khu explained to reporters that the workers’ predicament began in May, when many filed for the income support they are entitled to under the Social Security Act. Section 33 of the act entitles employees to compensation during periods of work cessation at […]

Tourism

Phuket may be chosen as test case in phased re-opening to foreign tourists

Published

4 days ago

August 3, 2020

Maya Taylor

PHOTO: Syed Ahmad on Unsplash

As the Tourism Authority of Thailand considers how the country might safely re-open its borders, the Bangkok Post reports that there are tentative plans afoot to kick off the project with Phuket, possibly in October. The director-general of the Department of Health, Panpimon Wipulakorn, says Phuket’s position as a self-contained island means it would be easier to control any potential Covid-19 outbreak following re-opening. During the peak of the initial wave of Covid-19 infections in Thailand, Phuket had the highest rate of infections in the country, per capita, mostly concentrated in the Patong and Bang Tao areas. Meanwhile, TAT spokeswoman […]

Phuket

Korean man in Phuket suicide

Published

6 days ago

August 1, 2020

Jack Burton

PHOTO: Phuket Andaman News

In an apparent suicide, the body of a South Korean man was found in a pickup truck in the city district of the southern resort province of Phuket yesterday, his head covered in a plastic bag. Police found the white pickup, with Phuket licence plates, in the car park of the Golden Triangle Been Co. in tambon Vichit after being alerted at around 11:40am. The body of the 40 year old man, whose name is being withheld pending notification of relatives and the South Korean embassy, was found in the driver’s seat. He was wearing a black T-shirt and jeans […]