23/03/2005 – Following
extensive coastal damage caused by the December
2004 tsunami that hit Southeast Asia, WWF
continues its involvement in post-tsunami
reconstruction by participating in a beach
and reef clean-up event with Thai school children.
While hundreds of students from the Rajabhat
Institute and the Baan Mai Khao School collected
rubbish on a local beach for recycling, divers
cleaned a reef in the vicinity of the Mariott
Phuket resort — one of a few hotels that withstood
the full impact of the tsunami — by gathering
over 100kg of fishing nets and remains of
plastic bags and bottles.
“Tourism in Thailand is vitally important
to the livelihoods of many people living in
coastal areas,” said WWF Thailand Country
Representative Robert Mather, who participated
in the dive clean-up event. “Long-term sustainable
marine tourism depends upon maintaining healthy
local ecosystems such as coral reefs.”
Following the tsunami, an ad hoc assessment
conducted by the Dive Operators Club Thailand
– Phuket, and the private sector, used established
dive-masters to estimate damage done to known
dive sites. The areas surveyed were in the
world-renowned Surin and Similan archipelago,
and those in the south of Phangnga Bay, the
sites closest to Phuket.
Of the 70 sites surveyed (a fairly comprehensive
list of the Thai dive sites commonly visited
from Phuket) 51 were found to have suffered
“slight” damage, with 27 of these having no
or minimal damage. A further six sites suffered
“moderate” damage, while 13 sites were found
to have suffered “heavy” damage.
“With specific reference to well-known dive
sites we can see that most were not significantly
damaged and are still as diveable and as attractive
as they were before, whereas only a very small
number of sites may need to be closed temporarily
to allow recovery,” said Mather.
“It is imperative that local livelihoods
are rebuilt as quickly as possible, and for
this to happen tourists, including divers,
must come back to visit these areas again.”
In addition to clean-up activities, WWF is
urging dive operators and individual divers
to adhere to codes of conduct for ‘best practice’
standards, prevent illegal trade in souvenirs
and other marine species products, report
any illegal activities in marine parks, and
support the call for appropriate legal and
policy reform (including the establishment
of Marine Park Management Boards) to improve
coral reef protection and management.
Notes:
• The beach and coral reef clean-up event
was organized by the Mai Khao Marine Turtle
Foundation in co-operation with WWF, the Rajabhat
Educational Institute, Baan Mai Khao School,
JW Marriott Phuket Resort & Spa, Aquadivers,
and local Mai Khao villagers.
