Thailand, in rare step, shuts 10 dive sites over coral bleaching crisis
Warming waters and rising visitor numbers have damaged coral reefs and their ecosystems, national parks chief says. Sites will be checked before peak tourism season starts in November
Thailand has shut down 10 popular diving sites in a bid to slow a coral bleaching crisis –a rare decision to put the environment before tourism profits.
The country’s southern coastline and islands are home to some of the world’s most prized white sand beaches and scuba diving sites, and the booming tourism industry props up Thailand’s sagging economy. But warming waters and ever-growing swarms of visitors have damaged coral reefs and ecosystems.
The National Parks department has now indefinitely closed at least 10 diving spots after a survey found bleaching on up to 80 per cent of some reefs.
“The coral reefs are affected by unaware tourists – when they go diving they may touch or step on the reef. Closing those spots will help the reefs recover naturally,” said National Parks Office director Reungsak Theekasuk.
The diving sites lie off beaches stretching from Rayong province in the east down to Satun in the far south.