CORAL BLEACHING

Diving sites in 7 marine national parks in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand temporarily closed to allow coral reefs affected by bleaching to recover and regenerate

The National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department (DNP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, has reported that coral reefs at several sites along Thailand’s Andaman coast and in the Gulf of Thailand have been affected by coral bleaching – a phenomenon in which coral loses colour and becomes paler or completely white. Corals that have been exposed to environmental stress for an extended period of time are vulnerable to bleaching

The key to stopping and reversing the situation is to immediately alleviate the environmental stress to prevent further damage to the affected reefs and create a more favourable environment that allows the coral colonies to recover and regenerate.

Hence to facilitate the speedy recovery and rehabilitation of affected areas, the DNP, on 20 January 2011, announced the temporary closure of several key diving sites in seven marine national parks. Coral bleaching at these sites extends over 80 per cent of the areas concerned.

Action Taken to Protect the Coral Reefs
The following steps are being undertaken to protect the coral reefs.

To alleviate environmental stress, the DNP has introduced measures to restrict tourist traffic in marine national parks and minimize associated environmental impact.

Marine national park authorities have stepped up patrols to monitor and crack down on illegal fishing.

Agencies responsible are conducting ongoing monitoring of the coral bleaching phenomenon. Every effort is also being made to protect corals that are resistant to bleaching and speed up rehabilitation of those already damaged.

Responsible agencies are also providing updated news and information to officials, tourism-related operators, as well as Moken sea-gypsy communities, to keep all parties concerned updated on the situation and to foster cooperation in reducing environmental impact.

The DNP has also developed measures to ensure the proper management and utilization of natural resources for tourism purposes.

These include:
Stepping up the repair and maintenance of existing buoys and the installation of new buoys to prevent vessels from dropping anchor on the coral reefs;

Promoting better knowledge and understanding of responsible tourism, particularly in environmentally-sensitive areas of marine national parks;

Increasing awareness and promoting a better understanding of the coral bleaching phenomenon, and promoting increased co-operation in the preservation of natural resources and efforts to mitigate the impact of global warming on the environment.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand plays a key role in promoting increased awareness of environmentally-responsible Green Tourism through the implementation of campaigns such as the TAT’s Seven Greens concept and Travel with a New Heart, for a Sustainable Thailand. Both programmes focus on the importance of fostering a ‘green heart’ – urging tourists to be socially responsible and environmentally aware. This complements global efforts to help protect and preserve the environment at all tourist attractions.

These initiatives are designed to enhance public awareness of the need to protect and preserve the environment and restore environmental quality. This is achieved by: raising environmental awareness; by promoting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR); and by encouraging the active participation and support of all tourism stakeholders. These include state agencies involved in promoting tourism, private sector tourism operators and service providers, as well as public and non-governmental organizations, communities, media representatives and individual tourists — both Thai and foreign.

Coral Bleaching Triggers
Changes in ocean currents and the corresponding effect on air or water temperature (such as the effects of el Niño and la Niña events, and global warming), especially higher sea temperatures, have been identified as key factors that trigger episodes of coral bleaching.

A change in ocean currents causes changes in phytoplankton and zooplankton populations, as well the amount of other nutrients present in the water. A decline in zooplankton leads to starvation

Other reported causes of bleaching or whitening of coral reefs around the world include:

• Changes in water salinity

• Changes in water chemistry (in particular acidification)

• The build up of carbon dioxide and methane gases

• Low tide air exposure, exposure to increased ultraviolet radiation

• Exposure to high light levels

• Decrease in light levels

• Increased or high water turbulence

• Increased sedimentation (due to silt runoff), which relates to a decrease in light levels, as well as suffocation of sessile marine life

• Pollution, which is not limited to the depositing of sediment from soil erosion, chemicals such as nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, phosphate, as well as other detrimental contaminants into the sea via river run-off and drain pipes

• Pathogen infections

• Cyanide fishing