Department of Marine and Coastal Resources

  • Thailand NewsDugong dilemma: Thailand’s gentle sea giants face extinction risk

    Dugong dilemma: Thailand’s gentle sea giants face extinction risk

    Thailand’s beloved dugongs are in dire straits, prompting an urgent meeting by the National Policy and Planning Committee on Marine and Coastal Resources Management. Led by Deputy Prime Minister Prasert Jantararuangtong, the focus was squarely on the alarming rise in dugong deaths in recent weeks. With representatives from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry, and the Department of Marine and…

  • Thailand NewsDugong survival threatened by seagrass decline in Andaman Sea

    Dugong survival threatened by seagrass decline in Andaman Sea

    A prominent marine biologist issued a stark warning regarding the potential threat to the survival of dugongs in the Andaman Sea due to the rapid decline of seagrass, their primary food source. Thon Thamrongnawasat, the deputy dean of Kasetsart University’s fisheries faculty, voiced his concerns in a Facebook post, emphasising his worries for the future of marine biodiversity, specifically the…

  • Environment NewsReef-rescue ripples: Marine department dives deep to tackle 338kg ghost net near Rin Island

    Reef-rescue ripples: Marine department dives deep to tackle 338kg ghost net near Rin Island

    In a splash of environmental heroism, the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, along with volunteer divers, dove into action to tackle a colossal problem near Rin Island in Chon Buri’s Sattahip district. On Wednesday, January 17, the team embarked on a mission to untangle a whopping 338kg ghost net that had ensnared a coral reef. Prompted by concerned divers,…

  • Environment NewsPhuket’s deep cleanup: 800 kilogrammes of marine waste netted in underwater mission

    Phuket’s deep cleanup: 800 kilogrammes of marine waste netted in underwater mission

    An underwater cleanup operation near Racha Noi Island, Phuket, yielded 800 kilogrammes of discarded fishing nets and other marine debris last Friday. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) organised the cleanup after local divers alerted them about the marine trash accumulating on an artificial reef in Ran Gai Bay. The debris posed a significant threat to marine wildlife…

  • Phuket News2 Phuket restaurants busted with protected marine life

    2 Phuket restaurants busted with protected marine life

    In Phuket, two floating restaurants have been busted possessing protected marine life in violation of environmental laws. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) inspected floating restaurants in Phuket on Friday to check whether they had protected marine life and found a stash. Social media posts shared the findings online. The DMCR inspection found that both restaurants had ornamental…

  • Thailand NewsThai parks boss sacked in corruption scandal

    Thai parks boss sacked in corruption scandal

    The head of Thailand’s national parks was sacked on Friday as an investigation into a cash-for-placement scandal engulfs the environmental body. Thai parks boss Rutchada Suriyakul Na Ayutya has been removed from his post to “pave the way for a transparent investigation” into corruption, at least according to Jatuporn Buruspat the Ministry permanent secretary. Any kind of thorough investigation is…

  • South Thailand NewsThailand boosts protection of dolphins in Songkhla Lake

    Thailand boosts protection of dolphins in Songkhla Lake

    There are as few as 14 Irrawaddy dolphins in Songkhla Lake. The situation is so serious that the World Bank has become involved. Global dolphin experts recently met with local agencies at the World Bank office in Bangkok to come up with better ways to make sure the dolphins survive, and even flourish. The largest-ever convention of dolphin experts included…

  • Phuket NewsBaby turtles hatch in Phang Nga, die from garbage in Chon Buri

    Baby turtles hatch in Phang Nga, die from garbage in Chon Buri

    While Saturday marked the season’s first hatching of baby turtles around Phuket, 11 baby sea turtles found in Chon Buri in September have died from eating garbage. On the night of January 14, some 64 baby leatherback turtles successfully hatched and crawled into the sea at Bang Kwan Beach in Khok Kloi, Phang Nga. This marks the first group of…

  • Eastern Thailand NewsTourist who sat on endangered reef faces 10 years in prison, up to 1 million baht fine

    Tourist who sat on endangered reef faces 10 years in prison, up to 1 million baht fine

    A Thai tourist who posted a photograph of himself sitting on an endangered coral reef faces a fine of up to 1 million baht and a 10-year prison sentence. Wisutr Rattanasathian shared a photograph on his Facebook page on Saturday, which shows him sitting on the protected reef off Koh Khram Noi, in the Sattahip district of Trat province, eastern…

  • Phuket NewsFirst of the year: Green sea turtle lays 125 eggs in Phuket

    First of the year: Green sea turtle lays 125 eggs in Phuket

    In Phuket, a green sea turtle was seen laying eggs on the beach for the first time this year last night on Ao Sane Beach in Rawei. The rare event is celebrated each time it is spotted on the island province. The green turtle waded onto the beach to lay its eggs and laid a total of 125 of them.…

  • Thailand NewsDead whale found washed up on Koh Samui beach

    Dead whale found washed up on Koh Samui beach

    A dead Bryde’s whale was found washed up on Koh Samui’s Choeng Mon beach yesterday. By the look of the rotting carcass, said to be around 11 metres long, marine resource specialist Thon Thamrongnawasawat says he believes the whale died several days ago. The cause of death is currently under investigation by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources, Thon said…

  • Central Thailand NewsVenomous octopus grilled and up for sale at Pathum Thani market

    Venomous octopus grilled and up for sale at Pathum Thani market

    A venomous blue ringed octopus was found grilled up on a stick and up for sale at a Pathum Thani. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources posted photos of the octopus on their Facebook page, warning people to watch what they eat. While the octopus is small, about the size of a golf ball, its venom contains the powerful…

  • Environment NewsMarium, the baby dugong internet star, dies. Plastic found in stomach.

    Marium, the baby dugong internet star, dies. Plastic found in stomach.

    The orphaned female baby dugong, winning the hearts of many and helping to educate Thais about the importance of the local dugong population, has died with plastic waste lining its stomach, prompting a surge of mourning on social media. Marium was found in April off the coast of Krabi, southern Thailand, and photos of her nuzzling marine biologists quickly went…

  • Environment NewsKoh Phi Phi dugong died from a gastrointestinal infection

    Koh Phi Phi dugong died from a gastrointestinal infection

    PHOTO: Department of National Parks, Wildlife & Plant Conservation Another dead dugong was discovered over the weekend off Koh Phi Phi in Krabi province. Department of Marine and Coastal Resources veterinarians have determined the death was caused by stomach infection and chronic inflammation of the intestines. Another was found off the coast of Trang on the weekend as well. The…